Agricultural Science Glossary

The study and application of ecological principles to the design of sustainable agricultural systems.

The science and practice of crop production and soil management for optimizing agricultural output.

The use of living organisms such as predators, parasitoids, and pathogens to suppress pest populations below economically damaging levels.

A crop grown primarily to protect and enrich the soil rather than for harvest, typically planted between cash crop seasons.

The sequential planting of different crop species on the same field across growing seasons to improve soil health and break pest cycles.

A plant variety that has been produced by selective breeding and is given a cultivated variety name to distinguish it from wild populations.

A micro-irrigation technique that delivers water directly to the root zone through a system of tubes and emitters at low pressure.

The pest population density at which the cost of damage equals the cost of control, guiding decisions on when to apply pest management interventions.

The wearing away of topsoil by water, wind, or tillage, which reduces soil fertility and can pollute waterways with sediment and nutrients.

The application of fertilizers through an irrigation system, allowing precise nutrient delivery directly to the crop root zone.

The condition in which all people have reliable access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to maintain an active and healthy life.

An organism whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering techniques to introduce or modify specific traits.

The period of agricultural transformation (1960s-1980s) driven by high-yielding crop varieties, synthetic fertilizers, and irrigation expansion that greatly increased food production in developing nations.

A method of growing plants without soil, using mineral nutrient solutions in water as the growing medium.

A science-based approach to pest management that combines multiple strategies to minimize pest damage while reducing reliance on chemical pesticides.

The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen gas (N2) into plant-available forms such as ammonia by certain bacteria, either free-living or in symbiosis with legume roots.

A conservation agriculture practice in which crops are planted directly into undisturbed soil, eliminating plowing and minimizing soil disturbance.

The biochemical process by which green plants convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and oxygen using light energy captured by chlorophyll.

The scientific study of diseases in plants caused by pathogens (fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes) and environmental conditions, and methods for their control.

A technology-driven farm management approach using GPS, sensors, drones, and data analytics to optimize input application based on within-field variability.

A holistic approach to farming that aims to restore soil health, increase biodiversity, and sequester carbon through practices like minimal tillage, cover cropping, and diverse rotations.

The fraction of the soil composed of decomposed plant and animal residues and living microorganisms, critical for nutrient cycling, water retention, and soil structure.

A measure of hydrogen ion concentration in the soil solution, indicating acidity (below 7) or alkalinity (above 7), which governs nutrient availability.

An approach to farming that integrates environmental health, economic profitability, and social equity to meet present food needs without compromising future production capacity.

A land area that channels rainfall and snowmelt to a common outlet such as a stream, river, or lake, serving as a natural unit for managing water resources and agricultural runoff.