Individuals around the world have concerns about their country’s future agricultural efforts. Poorer countries that face long droughts and other agricultural challenges are getting some assistance with the help of GIS mapping. This mapping method relies on satellite images and aerial photography. Farmers now can see a layered map of their unique land that allows them more options for planning crops, evaluating the need of pesticides and having preparations in place for expected adverse weather patterns. Many farmers are taking educational courses in Geographic Information Sciences & Technology as graduate students.
Other people are getting this training to help farmers on a local, government or worldwide platform. The ability of a farmer to actually see a picture representation of what their land does through a period of time is remarkable. Some farmers have found that if they rotate their crops in a specific way, the soil is healthier, and the pests become less of a nuisance. This enables farmers to grow crops without having to use harmful pesticides in many cases. A strawberry crop farmer might plant something different in the usual strawberry crop location for a year or several years to get these types of effective farming results.
Having these GIS maps enable agricultural farmers to decide on the best biodiversity methods to use with their unique lands. Wildlife that affects crops can also be more accurately monitored with use of these highly technological layered maps. Farmers can then plan what crops to plant that both attract beneficial wildlife and insects, and keep away those animals, birds and insects known to be detrimental to a crop. Some agricultural experts are now testing these maps to better determine how and what to plant for adding phylogenetic plants known to have less diseases than other plants do. Phylogenetic plants refer to when a plant category has larger numbers of related species of plants.
Agricultural experts are finding that GIS maps can monitor how the land changes over time as a result of weather conditions. These maps can be color coded and otherwise marked to allow easier interpretation of the results. A study on agricultural land in Malawi showed that planting a native to the region tree in specific fields can give needed shade from scorching sun. This made the soil healthier by repairing soil nitrogen and giving a water source for any livestock when a drought was impacting the region. Local farmers call this tree magic for its amazing properties.
The use of highly sophisticated and technological systems in agriculture is growing in popularity. Farmers using these tools are seeing healthier, better and bigger crop yields. The advantages of GIS map techniques and other geospatial scientific measures are huge. Environmentalists are getting on board by monitoring various locations for changes in the weather, environment and more. Someone interested in learning more about how Geographic Information Science & Technology can help in agriculture and environmental studies can enroll in a graduate program offering this field specialty.
The future potential benefits from GIS system mapping is exciting many farmers and environmentalists all around the globe. This intriguing field has opened up new methods to help ensure that the world has enough safe food and water supplies while keeping the environment safe too.
