Turfgrass adds beauty to the landscape, minimizes sound and air pollution, stabilizes the soil, and reduces the heat load on homes through transpirational cooling. Many of the past crop production practices have resulted in environmental problems. The general decline in environmental quality has affected crops as well as the soil. In response to these problems, crop and soil scientists are turning their attention to water pollution, pesticide accumulation in soils, agricultural waste disposal, wind and water erosion and a myriad of other management concerns. Researchers are studying ways of genetically redesigning crops for higher yield, better quality, and resistance to diseases.
Biotechnology is a new field of study opening up in crop and soil sciences.
Tremendous progress in crop and soil research has been made, enabling our country to enjoy bountiful amounts of agricultural product of the highest quality. Integrated pest management, another new concept, has resulted in heightened awareness of the price, monetary and environmental, of agricultural inputs and has caused us to rethink our ideas about optimum yield. Demands for new applications are constantly emerging. The rapidly increasing world population calls for expanded agricultural research, teaching and extension efforts. The need for students majoring in crop and soil sciences is growing.