The Role of Cultivated Plants in the Living World: The Role of Cultivated Plants in the Living World Crop Science 1 Fall 2004


Who are Plant Scientists?: Who are Plant Scientists? The first plant scientists were those who: Observed how plants grew Developed ideas about the process and how to improve it Tested those ideas Came to conclusions


What if there were no Plants?: What if there were no Plants? Without animals plants would survive and/or flourish Without plants all animals would die Without humans most farmed plants would become extinct


Plants as a Food Source: Plants as a Food Source Plants – autotrophic use sun energy to create food Animals – heterotrophic depend upon plants for their food Photosynthesis – Carbon dioxide (air) + water (roots) = carbohydrates Photosynthesis occurs in leaves and other green parts (chloroplasts)


Cultivation: Cultivation Definition: the growing or tending of crops Cultivation came into use about 18,000 years ago (10,000 years after modern humans) 18,000 years ago – Egypt - Cereals (Wheat, Barley) 6,000 years ago – Europe – Cereals 5,000 years ago – Mexico – Corn 3,500 years ago – South America – Potatoes 3,500 years ago - Far East - Rice


Feeding the World’s Population: Feeding the World’s Population Cereal Crops Roots and Tubers Oil Crops Sugar Fruit Crops Vegetable Crops


Cereal Crops: Cereal Crops Wheat Maize (Corn) Rice Barley Oats Sorghum Rye Millet Over ½ the world’s food supply comes from these


Roots and Tubers: Roots and Tubers Potatoes Sweet Potatoes Cassavas


Oil Crops: Oil Crops Soybeans Corn Peanuts Palm Coconut Sunflowers Olive Safflower


Sugar: Sugar Sugar Cane Sugar Beets


Fruit Crops: Fruit Crops Bananas Oranges Apples Pears Etc.


Vegetable Crops: Vegetable Crops Lettuce Carrots Broccoli Asparagus Etc.


Energy Transformation: Energy Transformation 22 pounds of grain to produce 2.2 pounds of beef Bushel of grain = protein requirement for 23 people If fed to chickens energy for 2 and protein requirement for 8 people Animals consume grain that is not edible to humans and produce protein of a higher quality and provide necessary minerals and vitamins


Past and Present: Past and Present 1970’s brink of famine, ecological disaster 1980’s reversal of projection Reversal was achieved by: Agricultural research available to developing countries New Cultivars – cultivated varieties (wheat, corn, rice) By 2009, food consumption in nearly ½ of the developing countries will not meet nutritional standards


Non-Food Benefits: Non-Food Benefits Wood and wood products Building material, fuel, landscape, paper, etc. Textiles from fiber-producing crops Clothing, rope, twine, burlap and etc. Drugs and medicines Aspirin from willow trees, codeine from poppies, tobacco


Non-Food Benefits: Non-Food Benefits Industrial Latex from rubber tree Pitch, turpentine and resin from pine trees Aesthetic Perfumes and spices Environmental Erosion control Oxygen


Challenges for the Future: Challenges for the Future New challenges more social than production Starvation Exists – social, political reasons Increased GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) Round-up Ready, Flavr Savr, Rice w/vitamin A


Lab Assignment: Lab Assignment Divide into Groups of 3-4 Using the internet research: World Food Supply – 1800-2010 World Population – 1800-2010 U.S. Corn Yield – 1700-2010 Average U.S. Farm Size – 1700-2010 Average World Farm Size – 1700-2010 Top 25 Commodities in U.S. 2000 Pick 3 California Counties – top 10 commodities Email clintcowden@westhillscollege.com