Wheat Farming

Introduction

Introduction

Introduction Ecological Economic

Examples -Canadian prairies 加拿大溫帶草原-USA prairies 美國溫帶草原-Murray Basin in Australia 澳洲墨累河盆-Pampas in Argentina 阿根廷南美大草原-Ukaine 烏克蘭-North China Plain 華北平原

Human modification Sustainable farming

Introduction

Distribution of wheat farming

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Introduction1. Relief Flat to undulating

2. Climate Temperate continental climate

3. Thermal input Moderate, around 20’C

4. Rainfall Low to moderate, 500-750mm

5. Drainage Well - drained

6.Life cycle Short, about 3-4 months

7. Soil Rich grassland soil ( e.g. chernozem黑鈣土 , prairie soil 溫帶草原土 )

8. Farm site Far away from urban areas

9. Farm size Large

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Introduction

13. Land value Low

14. Land use intensity Low

15. Type of farm

produce

Wheat (a more durable crop)

Cereal (staple food crop)

16. Source of labour From family, employed workers

17. Labour cost High

18. Level of

mechanization

High, large-scale

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Introduction

19. Input of electricity High ( fuels, petrol )

20. Capital input Large

21. Market Local and international

22. Transport linkage By lorry, railway, ship

23. Settlement pattern Scattered

24. Soil conservation Windbreaks, rotation, fallowing

25. Degree of

modification

Moderate

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Ecological changes and impact

1. Flooding

Flooding due to

- Occasional extreme

weather conditions- Global warming- Snow melting- Widespread

deforestation

Impact- Uprooting and destruction of crops- Excessively prolonged water logging- Rotting of seedlings - Weeds and pests occur- damage of farmhouses and

infrastructure

- Alluvium deposited increases soil

fertility

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

2. El Nino & La Nina

El Nino & La Nina Impact

- More frequent and larger scale of

climatic hazard

- destruction of crop, farmhouse,

machine and infrastructure

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

3. Drought

Drought due to

- Insufficient rainfall- strong wind- drought-prone

areas (monsoon

areas, continental

interior)

- overcultivation

Impact- Inadequate water for irrigation

- Crop failure

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

4. Global warming

Global warming Heat is trapped by green house gases

(carbon dioxide, CFCs, methane, nitrous oxide)

Impact-Uncertain change of micro-climate - Pests and weeds increase

- Concentrated carbon dioxide

increases crop production

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

5. Tornados & typhoon

Tornados & typhoon Impact- Uprooting of crops- Physical damage of crops - Damage of machines,

farmhouses and infrastructure

- Crop failure

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

6. Frost and hail

Frost and hail Impact-Physical damage of crops - Less frost – free day

- Shorter growing season

- Crop failure

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

7. Soil erosion

Soil erosion due to

- Overcultivation- Deforestation- Drought- Strong wind

Impact- Decreases soil fertility

- Decreases growing capacity

- Crop failure

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Case study – Canadian Prairies

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Case study – Canadian Prairies

1) Long, sunny, summer days

2) Winter frosts help to break up the soil

3) The chinook wind (千諾風 ) melts the snow in spring

helps to extend the growing season.

4) Relief is gently undulating (machinery and transport)

5) Decayed vegetation gives chernozem (黑鈣土 ) and

prairie soil (溫帶草原土 )

Favorable physical characteristics :

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Case study – Canadian Prairies

1) In the north, growing season is short

( falls below the minimum requirement of 90 days )

2) Precipitation is low, about 500mm

3) In summer, hail and tornados ruin the crop and

droughts occur periodically

4) In winter, snows come as blizzards (暴風雪 )

5) Removal of vegetation leads to erosion by wind

and convectional rainstorms

Unfavorable physical characteristics :

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Economic considerations

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

1. High investment cost

High investment cost

- Require high level of technology,

modernized machinery - Routine care against pests - Land preparation (use of fertilizer)

Capital affects the scale of farming

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

2. High management fee

High management fee

Farm size is very large, computer is used for management

High management fee

Cost of production increased

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

3. High wage rate & labour shortage

High wage rate &

Labour shortage

- People is not willing to work in

farm

- Rural – urban migration- Require skillful and educated

workers and technicians

Rely more on machine, labour force is partly replaced

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

4. High maintenance fee

High maintenance fee

High level of machinery (e.g. combine harvesters, sprinkles)

Maintenance fee and electricity fee is high

Increases cost of production

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

5.Land use competition

Land use competition

Urbanization

More demand of land for urban development

Bid up land rent

More tertiary and secondary land use

Less land for farming

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

6. Change from local to world market

Expanded

market

Improved technology International

and transportation Trading Organization

(huge elevators, railway) (WTO, EU)

Better connection of farmers and market

Market expanded

Demand increased

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

7.Change of taste

Change

of taste

MDCs sent surplus Increased living standard

wheat to LDCs as aid

More food variety and choice

Taste changed and demand fluctuated

Farmers pay more attention of

future market projection

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

8. Diversification of wheat

Diversification of wheat

Technology advancement

More types of wheat

e.g. Durum (杜蘭 ) pasta

Buckwheat (蕎麥 ) bread

Farmers consider different types of wheat

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

8. Diversification of wheat

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Durum杜蘭

8. Diversification of wheat

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Buckwheat 蕎麥 Traditional wheat

9. Government policy

Government policy

Subsidies, protective tariff, government purchase of surplus grain, improves infrastructure

Production cost decreases,

Greater incentives of farming

Farmers may expand their farm

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Human modification

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

1. Mechanization

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Mechanization Problem solved

-water pumps

-sprinklers

-tractors

-combine harvesters

-help in farm procedures (ploughing, sowing, spraying of fertilizers, irrigation, harvesting)

-help in handling, storage, packing and delivery of farm produce

-increase labour productivity, farm yield and efficiency

-reduce the problem of labour shortage

1. Mechanization

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Mill separating wheat into flour, bran and germ

1. Mechanization

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Harvesting

Ploughing

1. Mechanization

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

A drill is used to put grain seeds into the ground

1. Mechanization

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

A disk is used to mix and firm the top 6-8 inches of soil

1. Mechanization

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Grain bin is a place where grain is protected from pests attack, rainfall and other damaging wheather

1. Mechanization

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Problem aroused

-soil is compacted by heavy machines. infiltration decreases and surface runoff increases, leading to soil erosion and flooding

-require fossil fuels, which may pollute the environment

-large fields are needed, so often trees around fields are cut down (loss of habitat for birds and wild animals)

-soil is more easily blown or washed away after cutting down of trees

2. Irrigation

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Irrigation Problem solved

-control the availability, quantity, time and reliability of water supply

-lengthen growing season

-the problem of periodic drought is solved

-quality and productivity are increased

2. Irrigation

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Problem aroused

-excessive irrigation water

-water logging

-salinization

-increase the number of pests and weeds

-overpumping of ground water salt-water invasion

3. Use of fertilizers

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Fertilizers Problem solved

-superphosphates in Australia

-nitrogen

-phosphorus

-potassium

-enrich the soil

-crop yield is raised and ensured

3. Use of fertilizers

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Chart showing the amount of different fertilizer used

3. Use of fertilizers

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Problem aroused--crops become more vulnerable to pest attack

-encourage eutrophication of stream(富養化 ) algal bloom

-contaminate water supplies

-increase in DO(dissolved oxygen 溶解氧 ) demand and depletion of DO

-pollute the habitat of birds and animals

-food poisoning

-creation of super species

-nitrous oxides green house effect

3. Use of pesticides and weedicides

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Pesticides &

weedicides

Problem solved

-minimize nutrient loss

-eliminate weeds which drain away nutrients

-reduce loss caused by pests attack

3. Use of pesticides and weedicides

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Wheat sawfly

3. Use of pesticides and weedicides

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Russian wheat aphid

3. Use of pesticides and weedicides

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Problem aroused

-food poisoning

-poison the food chain

-pollute the habitat of birds and wild animals

-pollution of water and air (sprayed by plane)

4. Biotechnology

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Biotechnology Problem solved

-Cross-breeding of plants and animals

-genetic enginneering and modifications

-more rapid growth

-disease resistance

-temperature resistance

-more efficient fertilizer use

-reduced pesticide use

-less environmental pollution by chemicals

-greater yields

-more nutritious composition

4. Biotechnology

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Fertilizer consumption is decreasing due to biotechnology and other improved farmiing method

4. Biotechnology

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Problem aroused

-unpredictable and uncontrollable consequences to ecosystem

-undermines the Earth’s biodiversity

-creation of super species

-food webs are simplified

-fast-growing species less humus(腐殖質 ) from litter decomposition soil erosion

-ecosystems become unstable

-crops are not tested for toxicity before marketing

5.Seed selection

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Seed selection Problem solved

-new strains of plant

(drought-resistant wheat, hybrids 雜交小麥 , high-yielding varieties of wheat HYV )

-healthier seeds

-more efficient use of sunlight

-faster growth, quick-maturing

-drought-resistant

-temperature-resistant

-disease-resistant

-pest-resistant

-higher yield per hectare

-less input of pesticides (less pollution)

5. Seed selection

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Problem aroused

-may lead to over-cultivation

-unpredictable and uncontrollable ecological consequences

-loss of biodiversity

-may lead to extinction of some species

5. Seed selection

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

6.Expand into marginal land

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Expand into marginal land

Problem solved

-more land for farming

-reduce the problem of land competition

-slow down the bid up of land price

6. Expand into marginal land

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Problem aroused

-the growing capacity of marginal land is often low

-require more irrigation, machinery, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and weedicides

-overcultivation soil exhaustion and erosion

-loss of swamps, pastures and forests

-habitat of wildlife is damaged

Human modification – sustainable farming method

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

1.Organic farming

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Organic farming BenefitsOrganic way to improve soil

-use biological sources for plant nutrients

-green manure and organic matter (animal waste) is added to the soil to improve soil

structure, enhance fertility, increase water storage capacity

-grow leguminous plants (豆科作物 ) to add nitrogen to the soil

-e.g. mulch護根層 , ash from plants

1.Organic farming

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Organic farming Benefits

Organic way to

protect crops

-biological control of pests is used

(using natural predators 捕獵者 )

-mechanical control of pests

(netthing 網屋 , changing planting times and patterns )

2.Crop rotation

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Crop rotation Benefits

-efficient nutrient cycling

-reduce the use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides

-increase soil fertility

2.Crop rotation

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Chart showing less nutrient leakage for crop rotation

3.Windbreaks

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Windbreaks Benefits

-reduce wind speed

-retain exposed soil particles

-eliminate the damaging and desiccating (乾化 ) effects on plant growth

-increase infiltration, reduce surface runoff

3.Windbreaks

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Wind break

4. Contour ploughing

Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming

Contour ploughing Benefits

-control land-gradient

-reduce soil erosion

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