Soil and water Developments of next half century

What are the future developments in the use of the soil and water resources? While the answer cannot be given with certainty, it is clear that the resources cannot be used in a blundering way. If they are, our beautiful Earth will soon become hostile to man.

Even by 2020, the main source of food for many will still be from land-based agriculture. This agriculture will have become highly efficient. In many cases, production will include carbon dioxide enrichment and methods for more efficient use of the sun's energy.

Water pollution will continue to be a problem. By 2020, most nutrients from water treatment plants of cities and industries will be returned to the soil to help replenish this delicate resource of the Earth. Agricultural engineers will work more closely with ecologists using the computers, so that man's actions are with Nature but not against it.

Water will be used and reused. Those uses by agriculture, such as irrigation, will be twice to three times as efficient as now.

By the end of the next half century there will be over three times as many people on the Earth – all dependent on its resources. Survival will not be without the use of the regenerative power of our soil and water. Agricultural engineers must continue to lead in this work..

LAND, AIR AND WATER POLLUTION– ITS FUTURE IMPLICATIONS IN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING

Agricultural engineers have long been identified with improving the quality of the environment. Indeed, the engineer's creed calls for the application of his knowledge and skill to the betterment of human life. Agricultural engineers have done many environmental improvements.

The draining of swamps has eliminated insects. Irrigation has made lands more productive. Soil conservation measures have reduced sediment in streams and loss of farmland. Agricultural buildings overcame hostile climates.

Today agricultural engineers are even more specifically identified with pollution abatement. They work with sediment, animals wastes, agricultural processing wastes, plant nutrients, forest and crop residues, inorganic salts and minerals and air pollution.

The role of agricultural engineers in the future is great. They will be designing special ecological systems where the wastes will be collected and processed. Solid components of wastes will be referred to the animals directly or through a conversion process using lower life forms such as insects or bacteria.

Crops will be planted, raised and harvested under a protective canopy. Insects, disease organisms and other pests will be destroyed and then physically excluded. Nutrients will be metered to requirements for crop growth. Rainfall will be diverted to storage for later application.

All this will seem " far out" to some. But it's time for agricultural engineers to play their great role in the future.