EXAMPLES OF APPLIED SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE
Theme
Micro-organisms
Examples
Helpful and harmful microbes in food production
Health of plants and animals, biosecurity
Chemical analysis
Assessment of nutrient deficiencies
Environmental risk management of pollutants
Products from living things
Photosynthesis
Food, wool, silk, cotton, leather, pharmaceuticals, dyes
Intensive and organic farming
Controlled environments for plants and animals
Optimising photosynthesis in a greenhouse
Plant growth
Measurement of nutrients in soil and the use of organic/inorganic
fertilisers
Genetics
Selective breeding of plants and animals with desired traits
GM crops and animals
Energy resources
Case studies about scientific
workplaces
Making and assessing the
effectiveness of an electronic device
Identifying a range of components in
mechanical machines
Investigation of growth in controlled
conditions
Energy crops as sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels
Milk production at producer and processor level
Biofuels from crop production to power station
Production horticultural unit
Veterinary medicine
Increasing biodiversity through integrated crop management
Greenhouse control systems- water and temperature
Automatic feed controls
Pedometers on cows
GPS for yield mapping
Incubation control systems
Any pieces of agricultural equipment!
Improving yields of plants with varying levels of nutrients
Production of yoghurt using a range of milk types
Source:
Graham, Bill Where is the science in agriculture? School Science Review, September 2005, 87(318)