Plant Science Chapter 1 PDF

Chapter 1—History of Agriculture http://www.geneandmatttractorsales.com/site-images/old-plow.jpg Key Concepts Agriculture has been instrumental in the development of human civilizations Domestication occurred in many regions of the world Many Native American cultures depended on agriculture U.S. agr...

Chapter 1—History of Agriculture http://www.geneandmatttractorsales.com/site-images/old-plow.jpg Key Concepts Agriculture has been instrumental in the development of human civilizations Domestication occurred in many regions of the world Many Native American cultures depended on agriculture U.S. agriculture once was subsistence-level farming Productivity of American agriculture has increased Human Beginnings 1. Modern humans—200,000 years ago 2. From Africa—migration to Europe and Asia 3. Migration to North America via Bering Land Bridge 4. Migration from North America to South America 5. At the time of Columbus, 70 million people inhabited the New World 1 Hunters and Gatherers Had knowledge of seasons and nature Had botanical knowledge Used plants as food and for medicine Manipulated vegetation Developed hunting strategies Produced clothing and shelter Development of Agriculture Domestication— adapting wild plants and animals for human use Why did agriculture occur? – To secure food supply – To feed more people – Climate change – Natural step from hunting and gathering Areas of Crop Domestication Fertile Crescent— earliest site of domestication East Asia Central and South America Eastern North America 2 Native American Agriculture Some tribes lived in permanent villages and practiced agriculture Hidatsa Tribe – – – – Crop-based agriculture with hunting and fishing Farmed on fertile river bottoms Rotated crops Practiced weed control, selection to maximize yields, and crop storage – Grew nine types of corn, four types of sunflower, five types of beans, squash, and tobacco Colonists and Agriculture Gained knowledge of crops and production from Native Americans Appropriated the land for agriculture from Native Americans Grew indigenous crops and introduced their own crops and livestock Important crops of the colonies include cotton, grains, tobacco, rice 3 Evolution of Agriculture in the United States Farming started as labor-intensive subsistence agriculture 1600s–1700s – Hand labor was the primary approach to farming 1800s–1900s – Mechanical inventions were developed for all phases of production http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/12100/12150/handplow_12150_lg.gif Evolution of Agriculture in the United States (continued) 1900s–2000s – Most farmers began to operate independently from neighbors – Development of mechanical power, fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides – Human labor and animal power were replaced American Farms Farm productivity – Increased production as inputs (land, labor, fertilizer, and seed) remained the same or decreased Farms and farmers – Number of farms has declined over 60% from peak – Size of farms has increased, and they have become less diversified – One percent of the total population is engaged in farming 4 © 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning 5 © 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning Land Policy Following colonization, the U.S. government distributed over a billion acres of land Homestead Act of 1862 – Provided U.S. citizens, 21 years or older, the right to claim 160 acres – Homesteader had to live on the land for five years and make improvements – Contributed to settlement of the Great Plains 6