Agrology
Encyclopedia
Agrology is the branch of soil science
dealing with the production of crops. The use of the term is most active in Canada
. Use of the term outside of Canada is sporadic but significant. The term appears especially well established in Russia
and China
, with agrologists on university faculty lists and agrology curricula.
Agrology is synonymous with agricultural science
when used in Canada
, is nearly synonymous with the U.S. term agronomy, and has a meaning related to agricultural soil science
when used outside of Canada.
is conferred on persons with at least a Bachelor's Degree
in Agriculture
and who can demonstrate the qualities needed to responsibly teach, practise, or conduct experiment
s and research
in the agricultural sciences. According the Agricultural Institute of Canada website, an agrologist can also hold a degree in a field related to agriculture, or in some provinces pass rigorous prescribed examinations to attain a professional designation. There are about 5000 agrologists in Canada .
Within British Columbia
the term "agrology" is defined by an Act of the Legislature passed in 2003 and adopted in 2004 entitled the Agrologists Act. This Act authorizes the self-governing body, the British Columbia Institute of Agrologists and those practising agrology within British Columbia do so under the following definition.
"Agrology" means using agricultural and natural sciences and agricultural and resource economics, including collecting or analyzing data or carrying out research or assessments, to design, evaluate, advise on, direct or otherwise provide professional support to
(a) the cultivation, production, improvement, processing or marketing of aquatic or terrestrial plants or animals, or
(b) the classification, management, use, conservation, protection, restoration, reclamation or enhancement of aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems that are affected by, sustain, or have the potential to sustain the cultivation or production of aquatic or terrestrial plants or animals;
BCIA, the governing body for Agrologists in British Columbia, has over 1000 registered members.
The Registrars of Professional Agrologists across Canada adopted the following definition of Agrology in May 2007.
and is not in common usage in English-speaking countries.
or crop edaphology in combination with soil management
would be the preferred approach used by soil scientists to concisely describe soil science as it applies to crop production.
definition of agrology is yet consistent with the Canadian use of the term and dictionary definitions fall into one of four categories.
Soil science
Soil science is the study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of the earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to the use and management of soils.Sometimes terms which...
dealing with the production of crops. The use of the term is most active in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Use of the term outside of Canada is sporadic but significant. The term appears especially well established in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, with agrologists on university faculty lists and agrology curricula.
Agrology is synonymous with agricultural science
Agricultural science
Agricultural science is a broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture. -Agriculture and agricultural science:The two terms are often confused...
when used in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, is nearly synonymous with the U.S. term agronomy, and has a meaning related to agricultural soil science
Soil science
Soil science is the study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of the earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to the use and management of soils.Sometimes terms which...
when used outside of Canada.
Canada
The term agrologist was coined by Dr. J. B. Harrington and adopted in 1946 to fill the need in Canada to have a term to denote "provincial agriculturalist". The title of Professional AgrologistProfessional Agrologist
Professional agrologist or agronome refers to members of the self-regulated agrology profession in Canada. A professional agrologist contributes to the prosperity of Canada’s agricultural industry by providing unbiased expertise...
is conferred on persons with at least a Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and who can demonstrate the qualities needed to responsibly teach, practise, or conduct experiment
Experiment
An experiment is a methodical procedure carried out with the goal of verifying, falsifying, or establishing the validity of a hypothesis. Experiments vary greatly in their goal and scale, but always rely on repeatable procedure and logical analysis of the results...
s and research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
in the agricultural sciences. According the Agricultural Institute of Canada website, an agrologist can also hold a degree in a field related to agriculture, or in some provinces pass rigorous prescribed examinations to attain a professional designation. There are about 5000 agrologists in Canada .
Within British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
the term "agrology" is defined by an Act of the Legislature passed in 2003 and adopted in 2004 entitled the Agrologists Act. This Act authorizes the self-governing body, the British Columbia Institute of Agrologists and those practising agrology within British Columbia do so under the following definition.
"Agrology" means using agricultural and natural sciences and agricultural and resource economics, including collecting or analyzing data or carrying out research or assessments, to design, evaluate, advise on, direct or otherwise provide professional support to
(a) the cultivation, production, improvement, processing or marketing of aquatic or terrestrial plants or animals, or
(b) the classification, management, use, conservation, protection, restoration, reclamation or enhancement of aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems that are affected by, sustain, or have the potential to sustain the cultivation or production of aquatic or terrestrial plants or animals;
BCIA, the governing body for Agrologists in British Columbia, has over 1000 registered members.
The Registrars of Professional Agrologists across Canada adopted the following definition of Agrology in May 2007.
Agrology is the practice of bioresource sciences to provide knowledge and advice to support the development of the agriculture sector and the health of the society, environment, and economy.
Outside Canada
Outside of Canada, the term agrology is synonymous with soil scienceSoil science
Soil science is the study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of the earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to the use and management of soils.Sometimes terms which...
and is not in common usage in English-speaking countries.
Agrology in soil science society glossaries
Two national member societies (Canadian, American) of the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) maintain and publish glossaries of scientific terms. Other soil science societies defer to the American glossary. The term agrology is not in use. EdaphologyEdaphology
Edaphology is one of two main divisions of soil science, the other being pedology. Edaphology is concerned with the influence of soils on living things, particularly plants. The term is also applied to the study of how soil influences man's use of land for plant growth as well as man's overall...
or crop edaphology in combination with soil management
Soil management
Soil management concerns all operations, practices and treatments used to protect soil and enhance its performance.-Practices:Soil management practices that affect soil quality:...
would be the preferred approach used by soil scientists to concisely describe soil science as it applies to crop production.
Agrology dictionary definitions
, no dictionaryDictionary
A dictionary is a collection of words in one or more specific languages, often listed alphabetically, with usage information, definitions, etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other information; or a book of words in one language with their equivalents in another, also known as a lexicon...
definition of agrology is yet consistent with the Canadian use of the term and dictionary definitions fall into one of four categories.
- agrology is defined as synonymous with soil science. The root agr- is represented as meaning soil.
- agrology is defined as synonymous with soil science, but the context implies that soil science is a subdiscipline of agricultural scienceAgricultural scienceAgricultural science is a broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture. -Agriculture and agricultural science:The two terms are often confused...
. - agrology is defined as the subdiscipline of soil science as it applies to crop production. This would make agrology synonymous with the term crop edaphology.
- agrology is defined as the subdiscipline of agronomy that considers the influence of soil.
Soil science glossaries
- Soil Science Society of America
- Canadian Soil Science Society
- Canadian Soil Science Society (mirror)
Dictionaries
- Websters Online Dictionary – The Rosetta Edition
- Dictionary.com
- The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
- The Free Internet Lexicon and Encyclopedia
- Tiscali.com: The Dictionary of Difficult Words
Agrology faculty and curricula - non-Canadian
- Altay State Agrarian University Russia
- Huazhong Agricultural University China
- Northeast Institute of Geography and Agricultural Ecology China
Other
- British Columbia Institute of Agrologists
- Canadian Consulting Agrologists Association (CCAA)
- The United Nations (UN) Department of Economic and Social Affairs - Statistics Division
- Glossary definition: agrology