One of the main focuses of module 5 was the difference between perennial plants and annual plants and the advantages and disadvantages of each. I was interested in the sustainability advantage that perennials provided and decided to do some more research about the benefits that perennials provide to the environment.
Although annual plants comprise about 80% of food crops in the world, perennial plants are the ones that provide a much more substantial positive impact on the environment (Eliades 2012). As we learned in module 5, one huge advantage to perennials is the fact that you don’t need to plant perennials every year like you need to do with annuals. The general public sees this and is happy because perennials are “easier” to work with and last several years before needing to be replanted. But there is also another huge advantage to perennials that many people don’t know about. Perennials, because of their long life cycle, grow much slower than annuals, and therefore grow deep roots that help fortify the soil. Also, annuals are only in the ground for a fraction of the year, leaving the soil in a vulnerable position. Perennials’ deep roots and the fact that they do not leave the soil exposed for part of the year leads to a big reduction in soil erosion compared to annuals (EarthEasy 2011) Perennials also do not need nearly as large of an amount of nutrients as annuals to grow. This means less fertilizer (or none) needs to be applied, leading to less runoff and all of the issues that come along with runoff (Eliades 2012). Perennials are also more efficient with their water consumption and rainwater runoff is reduced (EarthEasy 2011).
So, after reading about all the positives of perennials, I wondered why annuals made up such a large percentage of the world’s food crops. The main problem is the struggle to produce large seeds while also maintaining the advantages that perennials provide, such as the deep root growth (EarthEasy 2011). This means that perennials fall behind annuals in production. However, there is a big push to get perennials to become as productive as annuals and progress is being made in the right direction. Through recently developed genetic modification of plants, researchers are starting to see positive progress in crop yield for perennials while also maintaining all of the environmental benefits that perennials provide (EarthEasy 2011).
With the recent developments in increasing perennial crop yields, I think it’s only a matter of time before perennials take over annuals as the main provider of food crops around the world. This would have a very positive impact based on all of the environmental benefits that perennials are known to provide.
Works Cited:
“Perennial Crops Being Developed to Produce Food with Less Environmental Impact.” EarthEasy. 23 May 2011. Web. 21 Feb. 2016. <http://learn.eartheasy.com/2011/05/perennial-crops-being-developed-to-produce-food-with-less-environmental-impact/>.
Eliades, Angelo. “Perennial Plants and Permaculture – The Permaculture Research Institute.” The Permaculture Research Institute Perennial Plants and Permaculture Comments. 06 June 2012. Web. 21 Feb. 2016. <http://permaculturenews.org/2012/06/06/perennial-plants-and-permaculture/>.
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