What is Agronomy?

Agronomy is the science of crops and soils. Crops are plants grown in fields which are large areas to produce cereals and other food crops, fiber, fodder, fuel, and conservation. Soil Science is sometimes separated from Agronomy.

Applied plant sciences

In contrast with Agronomy, Horticulture is the science of plants grown intensively in smaller areas such as “gardens.” Vegetables and edible fruits are examples. The distinctions among the three applied plant sciences (including Forestry) are somewhat arbitrary based on historical usage, with overlaps.

Agronomy, Horticulture, Forestry, the science of trees, study landscapes. Turfgrasses are studied in both Agronomy and Horticulture. Agronomy usually applies to larger landscapes such as conservation easements, roadsides, golf courses, and sports turf fields. Horticulture is often applied to home lawns. Aquaculture and Range Management are other applied sciences touching on plants.

Agronomy and other applied plant sciences intersect basic sciences such as Botany, Ecology, Genetics, Plant Pathology, and Plant Physiology to solve problems present and past.

A genetic accident

Bread wheat which we eat today began as a natural hexaploid interspecific hybrid between emmer wheat and Aegilops tauschii. That was in the Middle Paleocene about 12,000 years ago, possibly near the southern banks of the Caspian Sea. Hunter-gatherers were harvesting native wheats for eating. Some must have sampled the new wheat. Because they started to plant and grow it. Bread wheat was thus created naturally and chosen by people for cultivation. So began farming and agronomy.

Once those first farmers decided to cultivate bread wheat, the stage was set for settled agriculture. Settlements made possible investment in irrigation. That brought cities, long-distance trade, nations, laws, and science.

Bread wheat’s gluten protein allowed bread loaves to rise and maintain structure. It was good eating and could be carried and stored. Bread wheat was both popular and had wider geographic adaptability than wild wheats. As bread wheat and other crop plant cultivation spread, civilization’s other baggage came as well. Irrigation, accounting, laws, science, and writing spread with agriculture. And bread wheat. And agronomy.

The world today began from a genetic accident among wild grasses and the first farmers’ decision to plant bread wheat. But problems happened, such as black stem rust of wheat, a dangerous fungus disease.

Empowered by basic sciences

Because of the stem rust problem, during the last century, scientists sought genes of native wild wheat plants from the Zagros region. That was part of the early home of wheat’s ancestors. And some of our ancestors. The scientists’ purpose was to breed for resistance against wheat stem rust. Agronomy, Genetics, Ecology, Plant Pathology, and Anthropology thus came together over an agronomic event from the dawn of history.

As a Certified Professional Agronomist and Certified Crop Adviser, I use science and common sense with plant and soil problems. Knowing how a crop or landscape system normally grows, and its environmental requirements, helps me gather evidence, solve problems, and help clients.

Phil Busey, Ph.D., Agronomy