Food is an essential requirement for every living thing. We rely on plants and animals to eat. The ancient people began cultivating food within a limited area and employed certain techniques to improve their management and growth. The art of producing the crop is known as agriculture.
In agriculture, certain factors are to consider, like the kind of crop, the soil and climate characteristics, etc. Different variables determine which crop is best cultivated at which time of the year and where. There needs to be more than the right climate, soil and season to produce an excellent product. It requires a series of practices that must be adhered to it. The methods used to grow crops are referred to as agricultural practices.
Global warming
Global warming is an increase in Earth’s average temperature due to human beings releasing various greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Than these gases are harming many parts of the globe. Because of it, the melting of glaciers results in rising sea levels. When the sea level rises, it risks those living in areas with low elevation.
The process of global warming is caused by carbon dioxide (CO 2) along with other air pollutants gathering inside the Earth’s atmosphere. Then absorbing solar radiation that bounces off the Earth’s exterior. The usual course of radiation escapes into the universe. However, these contaminants that can persist for decades in the atmosphere hold the heat. These are the source of the Earth to become warmer. These heat-catching waste product–especially carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and synthetic fluorinated gases–are known as greenhouse gases. The impact of these gases is called the greenhouse effect.
Natural and artificial sources of global warming
Many natural processes lead to global warmings, like fires in the forests, permafrost, water vapors, and many animals. Fires in forests release carbon-rich smoke into the air, and the growth of new forests is not steady and slow enough to remove the vital oxygen into the exhausting carbon in the atmosphere. The natural forest fires will eventually finish through their time; however, buried in the ashes, they pollute gases trapped in the air.
The emissions from power plants powered by coal are one of the most significant greenhouse gas sources. Population growth is accelerating, and industrialization is also the cause of global warming because of the higher levels of harmful emissions. An increase in population results in increased demand for goods and services. Fossil fuels such as crude oil, coal, and natural gas are our direct sources of energy, generating the bulk of the fuel electric power, heat, and electricity used by people all over the world. They also play a vital role in global warming. The excessive use of nitrogen-based fertilizers in the agricultural sector significantly contributes to nitrous oxide emissions.
Global warming effects on agriculture
Changes in the climate can impact agriculture in many ways. In the range of a certain temperature, warming is likely to decrease yields due to the speed at which crops go through their growth and produce less grain. Also, higher temperatures hinder the capacity of plants to access and use water. The rate of soil loss intensify when temperatures rise. Plants are more transpiring, so they lose much water from their foliage. The combined effect is called “evapotranspiration.” Because global warming is liable to increase rain, the gross effect of higher temperatures on water availability is a race between higher evapotranspiration and higher chemical change. In general, the competition is won through a higher level of evapotranspiration.
Global warming could cause a significant increase in food security as food prices rise and food production decreases. Food can become more expensive due to climate change mitigation efforts that raise energy costs. The water required to produce food is likely to become scarce due to the increased water used in crop usage and the onset of the drought. There could be a greater demand for land because certain areas may become climate-unsuitable for agricultural production. Additionally, extreme weather conditions triggered by climate change could trigger sudden declines in the productivity of crops, which could lead to a fast price increase.
Effects Of Co2
Gradual carbon dioxide and temperature increases could result in more favorable conditions that can boost crop yields in certain regions. Usually, the potential yield gains are likely to be limited by extreme conditions, including severe drought and heat when crops are flowering. Crop production is predicted to decline in many regions throughout the 21st century due to climate changes.
Effects of heat waves
Heat waves (periods of intense temperatures) are expected to increase in frequency shortly and are an enormous challenge for agriculture. The heat waves can create stress on animals and plants and can harm the production of food. Extreme temperatures are particularly noxious to crop production when they occur while the plants are flowering and if one crucial stage is not properly handled and there are no seeds. For animals, stress can lead to reduced fertility and productivity, negatively impact their immune system, and make them more vulnerable to certain ailments.
Solutions to agricultural problems
Human activity that raise soil, plant and animal health may increase the resilience of animals and plants to climate changes. Reproductive farming activity, such as no-till farming, not burning stubbles, and planting cover crops, will ensure that soil and plants are in the best shape to stand up to drought and irregular rain.
Innovative technologies for animal food supplements are demonstrated to decrease enteric methane emissions from ruminants. Alternate drying and wetting methods for rice cultivation can reduce water consumption while also cutting methane emissions by creating aerobic soil conditions.
Innovative technologies also aid adaptation to climate change. Promising biotechnology companies have invested in improving soil health by utilizing enzymes created by microbes. The increased use of advanced genetics, like climate-resilient hybrid varieties of livestock and hybrid plant breeds, may also enhance the ability to withstand climate-related shocks.
