Capita Grain Research Articles

Semidwarf rice and wheat in global food needs.

Rice and wheat together provide about three-fourths of the total food-grain supply consumed by man. Because of rapidly increasing population, per capita grain output in the underdeveloped regions of the world delined during the 1940's and 1950's. Fertilizer is a key factor in increasing agricultural production. Recently, several underdeveloped nations made major efforts to increase the use of fertilizer. But traditional varieties of wheat and rice did not respond to fertilizer efficiently. Attempts to breed fertilizer-responsive varieties were generally unsuccessful until plant breders discovered the Chinese rice Dee-geo-woo-gen and the Japanese wheat Norin 10 and used them in breeding programs. This resulted in the development of the semidwarf rice, Taichung Native 1, in 1956 in Taiwan and the semidwarf wheat, Gaines, in 1961 in the U. S. A. The most extensive use of the semidwarfing genes was made by the Mexican wheat program and at the International Rice Research Institute. Several Mexican semidwarf wh...

Agriculture in Eastern Europe

I. Overcrowding of the land, 170. — Importance of agricultural problem of eastern Europe. Density of population. Large proportion of rural population; its high density. Low yields. Per capita grain production. II. Consequences as to standard of living and food supply, 174. — Predominantly vegetable diet. Small surplus after supplying wants of producer. Live stock. Prewar grain exports. Reduction of food output during war; continuation of similar causes after war. Widespread food shortage. The Russian famine. III. Prospects for recovery, 180. — Conditions favoring recovery. Importance of political conditions. Increased crops of 1921 except in Russia; exports of food; effect on currency exchange. Probably slower recovery of Russia. IV. Prospect for progress in peasant agriculture, 183. — Vicious circle of overcrowding, poverty, ignorance. Effects of overcrowding on agricultural methods. Shallow plowing. Unsatisfactory crop rotation. Scattered holdings — their explanation and consequences. Mir system. Beneficial effects of democracy. Rapid progress improbable. V. The large estates, 190. — Large-scale operation. Superior efficiency. Polish estates. Agrarian reform — division of estates. Direct gain to peasant overestimated. Measures already taken. Ultimate effects, especially on peasant psychology.