agro-

(Greek: land, soil, field, fields; earth; wild, as one who lives in the fields; wildness; savage, savageness)

agrogeologist (s) (noun), agrogeologists (pl)
Someone who specializes in the study of minerals of importance to farming and horticulture: "The agrogeologist is especially interested in the relationships of soil fertility and the various fertilizer components."
agrogeology (s) (noun)
1. The study of geology, soil, crop, and horticultural sciences, and focusing on practical approaches to land management in developing and developed countries.
2. The study of minerals of importance to farming and horticulture, especially with regards to soil fertility and fertilizer components. These minerals are usually essential plant nutrients and are referred to as agrominerals.

Expanding the understanding of agrogeology

Agrogeology is the study of the natural fertilization that takes place when weathering breaks rocks into their constituent elements. It was first studied in the early nineteenth century; however, the success of the artificial fertilizers eliminated interest in this natural approach until the late 1970s when Dr. Chesworth, a geologist at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, combined his theoretical studies of rock decomposition to determine that weathering of a common volcanic rock like basalt made land more fertile.

Continuing studies indicate that volcanic rocks like basalt, supply the nutrients necessary for plant and animal growth. The essential elements for plant growth include: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, molybdenum and chlorine. In addition, the presence of rock fragments in the soil and on the soil surface significantly influences infiltration, runoff, and moisture storage, all of which significantly effect plant growth.

In recent years, soil scientists have conducted numerous studies to reduce the application of chemical fertilizers on the nation's farmlands. Results from these analyses indicate remineralization can achieve a series of benefits:

  • Combat the effects of pests and diseases that effect plant growth.
  • Reduce the water requirements necessary for plant growth.
  • Lower the cost of production and produce higher yields on treated lands.
  • Provide the necessary nutrients to increase the quality and quantity of the plants grown.
—John O. Rudd, Agrogeological Evaluation

agroindustrialist, agro-industrialist (s) (noun); agroindustrialists, agro-industrialists (pl)
Anyone who participates in the production, processing, and packaging of food on a large-scale: "We agroindustrialists strive to provide the best quality of packaged food products that is possible."
agroindustrialize, agro-industrialize (verb); agroindustrializes, agro-industrializes; agroindustrialized, agro-industrialized; agroindustrializing, agro-industrializing
1. To industrialize the agriculture of; such as, to agro-industrialize a developing nation.
2. To convert or to organize into an agro-industry; such as, to agro-industrialize livestock production.
3. To become an agro-industry.
agroindustry, agro-industry (s) (noun); agroindustries, agro-industries (pl)
1. Industry dealing with the supply, processing, and distribution of farm products.
2. The large-scale production, processing, and packaging of food using modern equipment and methods.
agroinfection (s) (noun), agroinfections (pl)
A technique for infecting plant cells with DNA from a plant virus, using the T-DNA portion of a Ti plasmid.
agrological
A reference to agrology which is the agricultural science which deals with the origin, structure, analysis, classification, etc., of soils, especially in relation to crop production.
agrologist (s) (noun), agrologists (pl)
An expert or specialist in the science of agricultural production; a professional agriculturist.
agrology (s) (noun)
1. The branch of agriculture dealing with the science of soils and agricultural production.
2. Agricultural science that deals with the origin, structure, analysis, classification, etc., of soils, especially in relation to crop production.
agromania (s) (noun) (normally singular)
A strong desire or wish to live alone in a pastoral, countryside environment, in solitude, or withdrawal from society; sometimes a symptom of schizophrenia: Sam Jones wanted nothing more than to have a life of agromania, just by himself, his pet, and the influence of the countryside.
An abnormal desire to live in the open areas or in isolation from humans.
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agromaniac (adjective), more agromaniac, most agromaniac
A person who has a morbid impulse or desire to live in the open country away from cities and other people or in solitude or completely alone.
agromed, agromedicine
Agromedicine promotes the health and safety of farm families and environments, agriculture workers, consumers of agricultural products, and associated industries.

There are many problem areas in agriculture which require health professional resources to identify the causes and ways to prevent them. When farmer and related industry worker morbidity arises, prompt medical diagnosis and effective treatment is essential.

Further, all of these problem areas require educational outreach to explain, reassure and train the public, the agriculture industry workers, and their families about morbidity etiology and the prevention as well as other relevant health and safety promotion.

agrometeorology (s) (noun)
A branch of applied meteorology that deals with weather and climate and their influences on agriculture.
agrominerals
The study of minerals of importance to farming and horticulture, especially with regards to soil fertility and fertilizer components. These minerals are usually essential plant nutrients.
agronome (2) (noun), agronomes (pl)

Cross references of word families related directly, or indirectly, to: "land, ground, fields, soil, dirt, mud, clay, earth (world)": agra-; agrest-; agri-; argill-; choro-; chthon-; epeiro-; geo-; glob-; lut-; myso-; pedo-; pel-; rhyp-; soil-; sord-; terr-.