Potential of Perennial Crop on Environmental Sustainability of Agriculture

Abstract

Abstract Since the advent of agriculture, more than one-fourth of Earth's land surface has been converted for agricultural purposes, which conversion from natural to agricultural landscapes dramatically changes the plant communities that are integral to ecosystem processes. By developing perennial crops through breeding would help deal with the multiple issues involving environmental conservation and food security in a world of shrinking resources. It can provide multiple ecosystem services essential for sustainable production more effectively than production systems based on annual crops, such as protecting against soil erosion, conserving water and nutrients, storing more carbon below ground, and building better pest tolerance. This paper presents advantages of perennial crop system in ecological benefits, introduces the important role of perennial crop at the development of sustainable agriculture, and prospects the significant utilization and potential of perennial crop on sustainability of agriculture and environment.