Early AgricultureEarly Agriculture

Outline of topics:

I. Hunter-gathering

II. Invention of agriculture

- when, where, what, how, and why?

III. Crop domestication

IV. Important crops of the world

PLS 386 Lecture 1 August 26, 2005

•Hunter-gatherers used food sources that they found (60-80% plant-based)

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 2

•Hunter-gatherers used food sources that they found (60-80% plant-based)

•Wild rice, millets, oats, other grasses, root crops, nuts, wild fruits

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 2

•Hunter-gatherers used food sources that they found (60-80% plant-based)

•Wild rice, millets, oats, other grasses, root crops, nuts, wild fruits

•Oils came mostly from animal sources, but also from some plants (coconut, oil palm, shea butter, olive oil)

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 2

•Hunter-gatherers used food sources that they found (60-80% plant-based)

•Wild rice, millets, oats, other grasses, root crops, nuts, wild fruits

•Oils came mostly from animal sources, but also from some plants (coconut, oil palm, shea butter, olive oil)

•How did our ancestors avoid toxic plants?

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 2

•Hunter-gatherers used food sources that they found (60-80% plant-based)

•Wild rice, millets, oats, other grasses, root crops, nuts, wild fruits

•Oils came mostly from animal sources, but also from some plants (coconut, oil palm, shea butter, olive oil)

•How did our ancestors avoid toxic plants?

•Some remnants of this lifestyle exist today

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 2

•How was agriculture invented?

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 3

•How was agriculture invented?Divine gift from the gods?

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 3

•How was agriculture invented?Divine gift from the gods?Propinquity theory (domestication by

crowding)

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 3

•How was agriculture invented?Divine gift from the gods?Propinquity theory (domestication by

crowding)Invention and discovery

Garbage dumps

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 3

•How was agriculture invented?Divine gift from the gods?Propinquity theory (domestication by

crowding)Invention and discovery

Garbage dumpsFishing link (Carl Sauer)

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 3

•How was agriculture invented?Divine gift from the gods?Propinquity theory (domestication by

crowding)Invention and discovery

Garbage dumpsFishing link (Carl Sauer)

•When? About 10,000 years ago - after the Ice Age

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 3

•How was agriculture invented?Divine gift from the gods?Propinquity theory (domestication by

crowding)Invention and discovery

Garbage dumpsFishing link (Carl Sauer)

•When? About 10,000 years ago - after the Ice Age

•Agriculture spread to or was invented on several continents within a short period

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 3

•Where and when?

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 4

•Where and when?

Mesopotamia 8,000-9,000 B.C.Wheat, barley, lentils, chickpeas, oats,

dates, grapes, olives, almonds, figs, pomegranates

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 4

•Where and when?

Mesopotamia 8,000-9,000 B.C.Wheat, barley, lentils, chickpeas, oats,

dates, grapes, olives, almonds, figs, pomegranatesCentral Africa 4,000 B.C.

Coffee, sorghum, millet, cowpeas, yams, oil palm

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 4

•Where and when?

Mesopotamia 8,000-9,000 B.C.Wheat, barley, lentils, chickpeas, oats,

dates, grapes, olives, almonds, figs, pomegranatesCentral Africa 4,000 B.C.

Coffee, sorghum, millet, cowpeas, yams, oil palm China 4,000 B.C.

Millet, hazelnuts, peaches, apricots, soybeans rice, mulberries, chestnuts

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 4

•When and where, con’t.

Southeast Asia / Indonesia 6,000 B.C.Rice, sugarcane, coconut, banana, mango, citrus, yams, taro

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 5

•When and where, con’t.

Southeast Asia / Indonesia 6,000 B.C.Rice, sugarcane, coconut, banana, mango, citrus, yams, taro

New World (Mex. / Cen. Am.) 5,000-7,000 B.C.Corn, sweet potato, tomato, cotton,

pumpkin, peppers, squash, beans, papaya, avocado, pineapple

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 5

•When and where, con’t.

Southeast Asia / Indonesia 6,000 B.C.Rice, sugarcane, coconut, banana, mango, citrus, yams, taro

New World (Mex. / Cen. Am.) 5,000-7,000 B.C.Corn, sweet potato, tomato, cotton,

pumpkin, peppers, squash, beans, papaya, avocado, pineappleSouth America 6,000 B.C. and earlier

Potato, peanut, cacao, pineapple, cashew,Brazil nut, tobacco, guava, manioc, yam

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 5

•Few crops originate in the USA

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 6

•Few crops originate in the USA

American Indians grew crops from Mesoamerica.

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 6

•Few crops originate in the USA

American Indians grew crops from Mesoamerica.

Native American crops: grapes, plums, pecans,chestnuts, hickory nuts, hazelnuts, black walnuts, persimmons, blueberry,

raspberry, blackberry, cranberry, sunflower, hops, Jersusalem artichokes

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 6

•How did agriculture begin?

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 7

•How did agriculture begin?

-Earliest evidence is for vegetatively propagated plants such as grape, fig, olive, mulberry, pomegranate, and quince

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 7

•How did agriculture begin?

-Earliest evidence is for vegetatively propagated plants such as grape, fig, olive, mulberry, pomegranate, and quince

‘Best’ plants could be identified and multiplied

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 7

•How did agriculture begin?

-Earliest evidence is for vegetatively propagated plants such as grape, fig, olive, mulberry, pomegranate, and quince

‘Best’ plants could be identified and multiplied

Other vegetative crops: sugarcane, pineapple, potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas, dates

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 7

•How did agriculture begin? Seed propagation

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 8

•How did agriculture begin? Seed propagation

Keeping seed for planting the next crop could result in selection for higher yielding plants

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 8

•How did agriculture begin? Seed propagation

Keeping seed for planting the next crop could result in selection for higher yielding plants

Non-shattering types of plants would be favored

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 8

•How did agriculture begin? Seed propagation

Keeping seed for planting the next crop could result in selection for higher yielding plants

Non-shattering types of plants would be favored

Close planting selects for vigorous plants

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 8

•How did agriculture begin? Seed propagation

Keeping seed for planting the next crop could result in selection for higher yielding plants

Non-shattering types of plants would be favored

Close planting selects for vigorous plants

Larger seeds often produce more vigorous seedlings

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 8

•How did agriculture begin? Seed propagation

Keeping seed for planting the next crop could result in selection for higher yielding plants

Non-shattering types of plants would be favored

Close planting selects for vigorous plants

Larger seeds often produce more vigorous seedlings

Truly domesticated plants can’t survive without humans to grow them.

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 8

•Results of the invention of agriculture

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 9

•Results of the invention of agriculture

-Better health, longer lifespan, an easier life all resulted from the shift to an agricultural lifestyle.

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 9

•Results of the invention of agriculture

-Better health, longer lifespan, an easier life all resulted from the shift to an agricultural lifestyle.

More cultural developments were possible, because some people could specialize in skills other than getting food.

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 9

•Results of the invention of agriculture

-Better health, longer lifespan, an easier life all resulted from the shift to an agricultural lifestyle.

More cultural developments were possible, because some people could specialize in skills other than getting food.

For perspective, our ancestors were hunter-gatherers for ~30,000 years. We have been ‘farming’ for roughly 10,000 years, or 400 generations.

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 9

Crop consequences of domestication:

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 10

Crop consequences of domestication:

•More ‘yield’ of desirable part

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 10

Crop consequences of domestication:

•More ‘yield’ of desirable part.•Non-shattering - seed are easier to harvest.

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 10

Crop consequences of domestication:

•More ‘yield’ of desirable part.•Non-shattering - seed are easier to harvest.•Big seeds - domesticated bean seed are 5-8 times as

large as their wild relatives.

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 10

Crop consequences of domestication:

•More ‘yield’ of desirable part.•Non-shattering - seed are easier to harvest.•Big seeds - domesticated bean seed are 5-8 times as

large as their wild relatives.• Improved quality - remove or lower toxic

substances.

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 10

Crop consequences of domestication:

•More ‘yield’ of desirable part.•Non-shattering - seed are easier to harvest.•Big seeds - domesticated bean seed are 5-8 times as

large as their wild relatives.• Improved quality - remove or lower toxic

substances.•Increased protein, oil, sugar concentration, which

means improved flavor, storage ability.

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 10

Geography of crop domestication

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 11

Geography of crop domestication

•Vavilov’s eight centers of origin where crops were first tamed.

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 11

Geography of crop domestication

•Vavilov’s eight centers of origin where crops were first tamed.

•Turns out that centers of diversity do not coincide with Vavilov’s centers of origin.

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 11

Geography of crop domestication

•Vavilov’s eight centers of origin where crops were first tamed.

•Turns out that centers of diversity do not coincide with Vavilov’s centers of origin.

•Areas with lots of wild relatives and primitive versions of modern crops can be invaluable sources of genes for plant breeders and geneticists.

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 11

Thirty Major Food Crops of the World (Table 1-2)

1. Wheat 11. Sorghum 21. Apples2. Rice 12. Sugarcane 22. Yam3. Corn 13. Millets 23. Peanut4. Potato 14. Banana 24. Watermelon5. Barley 15. Tomato 25. Cabbage6. Sweet potato 16. Sugar beet 26. Onion7. Cassava 17. Rye 27. Beans8. Grapes 18. Oranges 28. Peas9. Soybeans 19. Coconut 29. Sunflower10. Oats 20. Cottonseed oil 30. Mango

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 12

•Types of crops:

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 13

•Types of crops: Grain crops - wheat, rice, corn, sorghum, barley,

oats.

Early Agriculture PS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 13

•Types of crops: Grain crops - wheat, rice, corn, sorghum, barley,

oats. Oil crops - olive, linseed, sesame, sunflower, soybean,

coconut, palm, corn, peanut, canola.

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 13

•Types of crops: Grain crops - wheat, rice, corn, sorghum, barley,

oats. Oil crops - olive, linseed, sesame, sunflower, soybean,

coconut, palm, corn, peanut, canola.Fiber crops - cotton, flax, hemp, jute, kenaf, sisal.

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 13

•Types of crops: Grain crops - wheat, rice, corn, sorghum, barley,

oats. Oil crops - olive, linseed, sesame, sunflower, soybean,

coconut, palm, corn, peanut, canola.Fiber crops - cotton, flax, hemp, jute, kenaf, sisal.Forage crops - alfalfa, clovers, other legumes, many

grasses, including tall fescue.

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 13

•Types of crops: Grain crops - wheat, rice, corn, sorghum, barley,

oats. Oil crops - olive, linseed, sesame, sunflower, soybean,

coconut, palm, corn, peanut, canola.Fiber crops - cotton, flax, hemp, jute, kenaf, sisal.Forage crops - alfalfa, clovers, other legumes, many

grasses, including tall fescue.Spice / drug crops - tobacco, black pepper,

cinnamon.

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 13

•Types of crops: Grain crops - wheat, rice, corn, sorghum, barley,

oats. Oil crops - olive, linseed, sesame, sunflower, soybean,

coconut, palm, corn, peanut, canola.Fiber crops - cotton, flax, hemp, jute, kenaf, sisal.Forage crops - alfalfa, clovers, other legumes, many

grasses, including tall fescue.Spice / drug crops - tobacco, black pepper,

cinnamon.Fruit crops, vegetable crops, ornamentals, forest

trees, etc.

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, pg. 13

•Next time: Plant Diseases

Early Agriculture PLS 386 Aug. 26, 2005, p. 14