Title

The Impact of Ecological Dimension on Agriculture

Production

INTRODUCTION:

Ecology is the study of organisms, the environment and how the organisms interact with each
other and their environment. It is the science that seeks to describe and explain the relationship
between living organisms and their environment. The environment consists of both biotic
components (living organisms) and abiotic components (non – living organisms).

Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their
physical environment; it seeks to understand the vital connections between plants and animals
and the world around them.

Ecology also provides information about the benefits of ecosystems and how we can use Earth’s
resources in ways that leave the environment healthy for future generations. The many
specialties within ecology, such as marine, vegetation, and statistical ecology, provide us with
information to better understand the world around us.

This information also can help us improve our environment, manage our natural resources, and
protect human health. Increased temperature results in faster crop growth, and therefore, shorter
cropping seasons and lower yields. Temperature also impacts on photosynthesis rates and
respiration. C4 crops (maize, sorghum, sugarcane, etc.) have higher optimum temperature for
photosynthesis than C3 crops (cereals and most vegetables and fruits).

Sixty percent of the population of Pakistan is directly or indirectly reliant upon rain-fed
agriculture that depends on predictable weather patterns. Global climatic change affects our
agriculture and its impacts seem to increase daily. Pakistan produces wheat, rice, cotton,
sugarcane, and maize and these crops are affected by climate change.
Climate change is affecting not just rainfall intensity but also the amount of annual rainfall.
Many parts of the country are receiving less than 250 mm rainfall per annum that requires further
enhancement of farming and irrigation infrastructure including irrigation channels, canals, and
dams for water storage.

The most agricultural province is Punjab where wheat & cotton are the most grown. Mango
orchards are mostly found in Sindh and Punjab provinces, making it the world's fourth largest
producer of mangoes. Agriculture accounts for about 18.9% of Pakistan's GDP.