the Place of a green plant in nature economy. The population of the earth and food resources

you are: the Place of a green plant in nature economy

We live during unusual time. The population of the Earth making already more of four billions of persons (in 1960 when there was a first edition of this book, it came nearer to three billions), grows with unprecedented speed: the annual gain (minus death rate) reaches birth rate of 1,8% (fig. 1.4). At such growth of the population annually there is 72 million new eaters. The daily gain makes nearby 200 000 persons, and it means that every second there are two new mouths with which it is necessary to feed (more precisely, 2,3). Moreover, grows not only total number of inhabitants of the Earth, but the annual increase in population increases also. As the public health services are improved and extends, death rate and consequently, and growth rate of the population too grows decreases. We have the right to expect, thus, that the population of the Earth will double

Approximately each 35 years. If to admit that such rates will remain throughout the next millenium it will mean that by its outcome the lump of all people on the Earth will be made even to weight of the planet. Obviously, something should change, before this ' populjatsionnaja a bomb ' will ruin all of us.

As all animals and consequently, and the person are supplied ' with metabolic fuel ' at the expense of a solar energy caught by green plants, on purpose to find out any calculations, how many the Earth can support people, the quantity of the energy connected in the course of photosynthesis should start with. Above we have already told that annually in the course of photosynthesis communicates about 200 billion t carbon. Whether it is possible to increase this quantity and if it is possible, how much? Clearly that as though we tried to expand the areas of our agricultural grounds, even Herculean efforts hardly will allow us to increase the cultivated earths more than twice. However even in this case efficiency will not double, because the best earths are already occupied for a long time. Estimations of efficiency of photosynthesis generally lead to a conclusion that very essential contribution to the general result is brought by globe waters; not less than 50%, and can be, and to 80% of all photosynthesis proceeds in the seas and in fresh waters. Whether it is impossible in that case to start ' to cultivate ' the seas or, for example, to grow up for food various seaweed in extensive, specially for this purpose fertilised ' sea kitchen gardens ' is more whole? However, while it is represented to us impracticable from the economic point of view. However in due course, when the world will be overflowed by hungry people, something similar can appear simply necessary. Absolutely clearly that this new type of managing will demand all our botanical knowledge and abilities and that they can play in this business the most important role.

One more way to increase in manufacture of food is an improvement of plants. In this direction already many it was possible to reach on the basis of development of an agronomical science and that ' green revolution ', in which botany take the most active part. Selectors create the new improved grades of cultural plants, and the number of such grades steadily grows; phytophysiologists learn us to that, properly to satisfy requirements of plants for nutrients as it is possible to influence in appropriate way growth of plants and as by means of special chemical means to destroy weeds; phytopathologists and entomologists develop ways of protection against pathogenic mushrooms and from insects-wreckers; soil scientists learn how to keep and enrich difficult soil-smes environment of the crushed rocks, organic substances and soil microorganisms; at last, agriculturists care of that the agriculture was conducted effectively enough. Probably, in due course we will comprehend the photosynthesis mechanism so well that we will learn to regulate this process and to raise its efficiency in a plant or even successfully to carry out it out of a live cage. The new prospects opening in the field of the further improvement of plants, we still will discuss more low.

It is necessary to recognise, however, that even if on the Earth and it will be made more than the food, all prize from it all the same will be brought to nothing by unlimited growth of the population. To what to achieve doubling of efficiency of agriculture, so far as in 35 years the effect from these efforts will appear equal to zero as the number of mouths with which it will be necessary to feed will double also? Absolutely clearly that sooner or later the mankind will be compelled to deal with a question on that, how many people can be provided by all necessary at the expense of resources which the Earth has; and then it is required to find ways which would allow to keep a population at this level. And though we, of course, will face on this way set of every possible problems - religious, political and social, - to population growth the limit or on the basis of peace, meaningly planned actions, or among violence and the chaos, generated by hunger, epidemics or war eventually will be put.