CHANGES IN THE LIVING WORLD FARMING: Mechanisation Description: Mechanized agriculture is the process of using agricultural machinery to mechanize

the work of agriculture, greatly increasing farm worker productivity. In modern times, powered machinery has replaced many jobs formerly carried out by men or animals such as oxen, horses and mules Effects: The effects are machines have taken over the many jobs on farm. Making workers unemployed. Heavy machines can cause soil compaction meaning soil is no longer suitable for growing crops. It will become possible for the farmers to change from local varieties to high yielding varieties. Also the cultivation of two rice crops per year might become a possibility The inputs for two crops of rice per year will cause major changes in the physical environment of the Tidal Swamps.

These are the examples of mechanization in farming:

History:

Jethro Tull's seed drill (ca. 1701) was a mechanical seed spacing and depth placing device that increased crop yields and saved seed. It was an important factor in the British Agricultural Revolution.

Increased field size Effects: This has resulted in vast amount of hedgerow being cleared-causing a loss of habitat for wildlife and an increase in soil erosion. The use of large machines e.g combine harvesters has led to an increase in field size which means the machines can be used more efficiently. This intensification has been achieved by increased use of artificial fertilisers, pesticides, and monocultures, resulting in loss of noncultivated habitats and grazed pastures. Description: Hedgerows have been removed to increase field size to increase production

Increased use of chemicals Effects: This has led eutrophication in rivers/lakes and many are concerned about the impact chemicals have on their food and are turning instead to organic products. These are examples of chemicals in farming:

Description: As farms have become more intensive and commercial there has been a drive to grow as many crops as possible-maximising profits. Organic farming: Effects: Organic farming is becoming more popular. Chemicals are not used in organic farming, therefore much less environmental damage is caused. However prices of organic products are higher than traditional farm products and yields are lower. Description: Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control. Organic farming uses fertilizers and pesticides but excludes or strictly limits the use of manufactured (synthetic) fertilizers, pesticides (which include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides), plant growth regulators such as hormones, livestock antibiotics, food additives, genetically modified organisms,[1] human sewage sludge, and nano materials.

History:

Organic farming (of many particular kinds) was the original type of agriculture, and has been practiced for thousands of years. Forest gardening, a fully organic food production system which dates from prehistoric times, is thought to be the world's oldest and most resilient agroecosystem. Organic agriculture was independently developed in the 1940s England through the work of Albert Howard as a reaction to agriculture's growing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. Countryside Stewardship Scheme: Description: The Countryside Stewardship Scheme is an agri-environment scheme run by the United Kingdom Government set up in 1991. History: Originally introduced as a five-year pilot project by the Countryside Commission, the scheme aimed to improve the environmental value of farmland throughout England. The administration of the scheme was taken over by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) on 1 April 1996, and the scheme expanded to include new landscapes and features, including whole farm plans for restoring and recreating traditional walls and ditches, wildlife corridors in arable areas using uncropped margins in arable fields (with management to benefit associated wild flowers and birds), traditional buildings, and old meadows and pastures (important for maintaining and increasing biodiversity) Effects: In overview, the quantitative effect of the scheme on income and employment appears negligible or mildly positive: however, there are marked distributional effects. The negative impact is most likely to be dissipated in larger urban centres and among capital-intensive agricultural supply and food industries, while the positive effects tend to be concentrated in rural areas.

Diversification: Description: Diversification are when farmers are encourages to develop activities out if farming to generate more income.

In the agricultural context, diversification can be regarded as the re-allocation of some of a farm's productive resources, such as land, capital, farm equipment and paid labour, into new activities. Effects: Changing consumer demand. As consumers in developing countries become richer, food consumption patterns change noticeably. People move away from a diet based on staples to one with a greater content of animal products (meat, eggs and dairy) and fruits and vegetables. In turn, more dynamic farmers are able to diversify to meet these needs. Improving nutrition. Diversifying from the monoculture of traditional staples can have important nutritional benefits for farmers in developing countries.

Risk. Farmers face risk from bad weather and from fluctuating prices. Diversification is a logical response to both. For example, some crops are more drought resistant than others, but may offer poorer economic returns.