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  • General

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  • 农业 农业 农业

    A fresh, ripe tomato resting on a tiled surface, representing garden produce.

    How does chemistry aid the success of crops?
    ::化学如何帮助作物的成功?

    In the spring, many people begin to plant their gardens.  They see ads in catalogs or shop the gardening section of a local store to get ideas.  The right place in the garden is selected, seeds or plants are put in the soil, and then the wait.  Whether it is a small home garden or a large thousand acre farm, chemistry contributes greatly to the success of the crop.
    ::春天,许多人开始种植自己的花园,他们看到目录中的广告或购买当地商店的园艺部门以获得想法。在花园中选择了正确的位置,种子或植物被放入土壤,然后等待。无论是小家庭花园还是大片数千英亩农场,化学都极大地促进了作物的成功。

    Agriculture
    ::农业 农业 农业

    Crops need three things for good growth: water, nutrients from the soil, and protection from predators such as insects.  Chemistry has made major contributions in all three areas.  Water purification uses a number of chemical and physical techniques to remove salts and contaminants that would pollute the soil.  Chemical analysis of soil allows the grower to see what nutrients are lacking so they can be added.  In the spring, grocery stores, hardware stores, and gardening centers have high stacks of bags containing fertilizers and weed killers that enrich the soil and keep down unwanted plants.  These same stores also provide a number of sprays or solid treatments for insects that might otherwise have a snack on the plants.
    ::作物生长良好需要三样东西:水、土壤养分和免受昆虫等掠食动物的侵袭。化学在这三个领域都作出了重大贡献。净水利用一些化学和物理技术来清除盐类和污染土壤的污染物。土壤的化学分析使种植者能够了解营养素的缺乏,从而可以添加。在泉水、杂货店、五金店和园艺中心,有一大堆袋肥料和杂草杀手,它们丰富土壤,减少不想要的植物。这些商店还为昆虫提供一些喷雾或固体处理方法,否则这些昆虫就会在植物上吃零食。

       

     

     

     

     

     

     

    A vast Idaho wheat field with a machine harvesting on rolling hills.
    Idaho wheat field.

    Water Purification  
    ::水净化

    Fresh water is essential for good crops.  In some areas of the world, there is enough rain to accomplish this task.  In other locales, water must be provided so the crops will grow.  Worldwide, irrigation covers about 18% of farm land and produces some 40% of crops. A major source of cleaner water in many parts of the world is provided by the process of desalinization .
    ::淡水是优良作物的基本条件。在世界一些地区,有充足的雨水来完成这一任务。在其他地区,必须提供水,以便作物生长。在全世界,灌溉覆盖了大约18%的农田,生产了大约40%的作物。在世界许多地方,海水淡化过程提供了清洁用水的主要来源。

    Military personnel operates desalinization equipment for irrigation purposes.
    Desalinization equipment.

    Sea water is treated to remove salts and the resulting water can then be used for irrigation without contaminating the soil with materials that harm the growing plants.
    ::海水经过处理以去除盐类,由此产生的水可用于灌溉,而不会因损害植物生长的材料污染土壤。

    Soil Nutrients
    ::土壤养分

    In many areas of the world, the soil is deficient in essential nutrients.  A number of minerals such as phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium may not be present in large enough amounts to cause good plant growth.  Nitrogen is extremely important for good crops.
    ::在世界许多地区,土壤缺乏基本营养素,磷、钾、钙和镁等矿物质的数量可能不足以带来良好的植物生长,氮对优良作物极为重要。

    Person applying fertilizers to soil near a tree in a garden.
    Man spreading chemicals on soil.

    Soil analysis is available from a variety of labs.  Local university extension services can provide valuable information as to the composition of a soil and will also make suggestions as to the types and amounts of needed nutrients.  Fertilizers can be purchased and added to the soil to enrich it and ensure better yield of crops.
    ::当地大学的推广服务可就土壤的构成提供宝贵的信息,并将就所需养分的种类和数量提出建议,可购买化肥并添加到土壤中,以丰富土壤,确保作物产量提高。

    Insect Control
    ::昆虫控制

    Even if the crop grows well, there is still the possibility of insect or pest damage.  The insect or pest can consume the crop or can damage it to the point where it will not grow well.  Infestations of armyworms can do major damage to corn and grain crops. Aphids and boll weevils are major predators of cotton crops.  Failure to control these pests will result in widespread crop damage and financial loss to the farmer.
    ::即使作物生长良好,仍然有可能造成昆虫或虫害损害,昆虫或虫害可能消耗作物,或破坏作物,以致作物生长不良,虫灾对玉米和谷物作物造成重大损害,虫灾和虫灾是棉花作物的主要掠食者,如果不控制这些虫害,农民将普遍遭受作物损害和经济损失。

    Various illustrated insect species that can damage crops in agriculture.
    Potato pests.

    A wide variety of pesticides have been developed by chemists and other scientists to deal with all these pests.  The basic approach is to have the pesticide interfere with some biochemical process in the pest.  Ideally, the pesticide will not affect other living organisms, but this is not always the case.  It is very important to read the labels and observe all precautions when using pesticides.
    ::化学家和其他科学家已经开发了各种各样的杀虫剂来对付所有这些害虫,其基本办法是使杀虫剂干扰虫害中的某些生化过程。理想的情况是,杀虫剂不会影响其他生物体,但情况并非总是这样。 阅读标签和在使用杀虫剂时遵守所有预防措施非常重要。

    Summary
    ::摘要

    • Plant nutrients are very important for good plant growth.
      ::植物养分对于植物的良好生长非常重要。
    • Chemical analysis of soil can tell he farmer or gardener what nutrients are needed.
      ::对土壤的化学分析可以让他知道农民或园丁需要什么养分。
    • Chemists have developed many pesticides that will kill plant predators such as the army worm and the boll weevil.
      ::化学家已经开发了许多杀虫剂 杀死植物掠食者,如 军队蠕虫和恶灵。

    Review
    ::回顾

    1. List three things crops need for good growth.
      ::列出三件事 作物需要良好的生长。
    2. How much of the water used in farming is provided by irrigation?
      ::灌溉提供了多少农业用水?
    3. What fraction of crops are grown using irrigation?
      ::哪些作物是利用灌溉种植的?
    4. Why do nutrients need to be added to the soil?
      ::为什么土壤需要添加养分?
    5. How do pesticides work?
      ::农药如何运作?