313.T1

Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: SupplementUniversity of California, Davis

Importance of Plants to Man

Plants are important to people because they:

• provide oxygen to animals.

• are a source of food.

• provide fiber which is used for fabric.

• provide shelter, roofing, and building materials.

• produce by-products such as dyes, decorative bark.

• may be used to alter the local environment.

• produce medicinal chemicals.

313.T2

Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: SupplementUniversity of California, Davis

Importance of Plants to Man

Ways in which Plants Alter their Environments

• Shade.

• Windbreaks.

• Erosion control.

• Noise control.

• Reduction of glare.

• Beautification.

• Production of nitrogen in legumes.

• Act as settling chambers for pollutants.

313.T3

Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: SupplementUniversity of California, Davis

Importance of Plants to Man

Shade

• Reduces loss of soil moisture by cooling the soil.

• Reduces local air temperature.

313.T4

Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: SupplementUniversity of California, Davis

Importance of Plants to Man

Windbreaks

• Reduce soil moisture loss by reducing evapo-transpiration.

• Warm areas in cool weather by reducing the wind chill factor.

• Prevent soil erosion.

313.T5

Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: SupplementUniversity of California, Davis

Importance of Plants to Man

Erosion Control

• Roots capture soil particles as they wash across the surface of the ground.

• Leaves capture and slow rain water so soil particles are not so easily dislodged.

313.T6

Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: SupplementUniversity of California, Davis

Importance of Plants to Man

Noise Control

• Plants block sound waves from noisy streets, railroads, or buildings.

313.T7

Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: SupplementUniversity of California, Davis

Importance of Plants to Man

Reduction of Glare

• Plants absorb and soften sunlight.

• Plants shade areas to reduce glare from sidewalks, streets, and buildings.

313.T8

Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: SupplementUniversity of California, Davis

Importance of Plants to Man

Beautification

• Plants help to make areas more attractive.

313.T9

Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: SupplementUniversity of California, Davis

Importance of Plants to Man

Production of Nitrogen in the Soil

• Soil micro-organisms coexist with legumes to make nitrogen for the host plant, as well as other nearby plants.

313.T10

Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: SupplementUniversity of California, Davis

Importance of Plants to Man

Plants Act as Settling Chambers

• Plants absorb particulate pollution (pollution which is in particles) and hold them within themselves .