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Email: ronan@agronomyone.com
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Owensboro, KY 42301
Phone: (270) 313-1101
(mailing) PO Box 22503,
Owensboro, KY 42304
(shipping)6448 West 5th Street Rd.
Owensboro, KY 42301
Email: ronan@agronomyone.com
(operations) 9210 Hwy 56
Owensboro, KY 42301
Phone: (270) 313-1101
Some crops are grown for their grains, like wheat and rice. Others are grown for their seeds (for example, soybeans), for fibers (like cotton), or hay (like alfalfa). Crops can be grown for leaves (lettuces), fruits (tomatoes), roots (potatoes), or stems (celery). Producing good yields of the desired crops means that agronomists and growers must deliver the right quantity of water, at the right time.
Plants are thirstier if the air is dry (arid) versus humid. If plants don’t receive enough water over an extended period through rain or irrigation, plants are stressed. As a consequence, plants will close the microscopic ‘openings’ of their leaves, called stomata. This prevents water in the plant tissues from escaping to the atmosphere (transpiration). Unfortunately, closing the stomata also reduces the plant’s carbon dioxide capture from the atmosphere, which is needed for photosynthesis.
So in solving one problem–possible dehydration–the plant’s response is causing another–reduced photosynthesis, which leads to stunted growth.
Research has also found that crops’ water needs vary during their lifetimes. Soybeans are most sensitive to drought at early pod-producing stages. Wheat plants need good water to start their growth, and then again to produce good grain kernels. Those are crucial times for farmers to watch their fields for signs of dehydration.
Irrigation can be expensive! Irrigating to a one-inch depth of water, spread uniformly across a one-acre field, requires 27,154 gallons of water. It’s common for a grower to have 140 acres of irrigated production land under a center-pivot sprinkler system. That’s over 3.8 million gallons of water for just one watering on 140 acres. The price range of the application can be from $5-$15 per inch per acre. Wise water management is essential for farms to remain profitable.
When Mother Nature’s sprinklers rain, it is imperative to use each drop by effectively storing it in the soil. Researchers continue to look at ways to avoid water losses beyond normal plant transpiration. Some of the approaches are:
Agronomists and crop scientists continue to develop and choose crops that are more water-efficient. Because productivity and sustainability are their goals, agronomists strive to produce more with less.
Humans and animals alike eat food supported by soil. This can be by directly consuming plant-based foods, like fresh produce or processed foods. Or it can be indirectly, by consuming meat or products from animals that first ate plants. This process comprises the major pathway of our global food system.
The way that we manage this system has a profound impact on the outcomes and impacts of our global society. The management of soils and plants to support the production of food, feed, and fiber is called agronomy. Managing the health of the soil is crucial to maintaining our food supply. Healthy soils help crops use water and fertilizer better. Unhealthy soils tend not to be efficient producers of food. This is harmful to not only the economy but also the environment.
The health and efficiency of soils and the cropping system depends on biological, chemical, and physical properties.
Each of these factors – biology, chemistry, and physics – interact and influence each other. If one pillar is damaged or neglected, the health of the soil is in jeopardy.
Much of a soil’s ability to support life is predetermined by early geology and climate. Agronomists help manage plants and soils in a sustainable way to support life. Agronomists work with farmers to decide which crops to grow, what nutrients to provide, and how to get rid of pests like weeds or unwanted bugs. They work with farmers to create plans that make the most of the soil on their farm.
Matching plant species to fit a location’s ecology such as soil properties and climate is often the first step. From there, the agronomist and farmer discuss practices like tillage, irrigation, and crop rotation. Using fertilizer and pesticides correctly is critical to ensure the longevity and efficiency of the system. These management practices are often highly location-specific and require adaptation and science to maximize the efficiency on the farm.
The increasing use of technology and artificial intelligence on the farm allows for precision application of crop inputs. Agronomists work with growers to make specific plans for different areas of the farm – and even different areas within a field. One area of the farm may need more (or less) fertilizer than another. Applying the exact amount to optimize yields saves money and the environment. Drones can be used to scout fields for problems like pests or diseases. Agronomists can use that information to help farmers decide how to manage problems that may arise.
The management of soils with the goal of having a net increase in carbon storage provides valuable soil health benefits, improves soil conservation, and helps remove carbon from the atmosphere.