The presented supportive teaching texts written in English – World´s Agricultural Systems – were developed to serve as study material for Czech and foreigner
students of ITS for whom the English is the second language in understanding general terms and concepts used by agricultural scientists in the field of agricultural systems throughout the world.
The previously edited teaching texts concerning this subject, even though written in Czech language ( Hušák: Zemědělské soustavy, ČZU, ITSZ, 1989 and revised teaching texts Kohout et al: Zemědělské soustavy, ČZU, ITSZ, 2002) were taken as the basic platform for the presented teaching texts and were complemented with new concepts accepted in this field of agricultural science.
The introduction chapter is devoted to agricultural system in general as an active part of the ecosystem. The basic characteristics and differences among the
temperate, tropical and subtropical agricultural systems are given in this chapter as well. Basic terms actively used for the description of agricultural systems are given with their respective explanations in the end of the chapter.
Typology of agricultural systems is discussed in the second chapter. The history and development of agricultural systems in different parts of the world is described.
The advantages and disadvantages of particular agricultural systems are listed with the different types, advantages and restrictions. The groups of different machines are then completed by the rules of regards to their ecological stability and capability to support agricultural communities of people in different parts of the world.
The most extensive third chapter is focussed on diversity of cropping systems in different climatic and socio-economic environments throughout the world. The
importance of rotating the crops is highlighted in contrast with the monocultures of different crops. The specific characteristics concerning cultivation technologies of main types of food crops are discussed in details.
The immense importance of relevant soil management under diverse climatic and soil conditions is revealed in chapter four.
Last chapter is focused on weeds, their morphological characteristics, worldwide species diversity and the latest technologies of their management within the
agricultural systems.
Even though the selected topics for presented teaching texts are based on the latest scientific concepts and experience, students should not restrict themselves to only reading these teaching texts. These form a base from where it is necessary to critically and actively follow up the details and particularities of individual evaluated agricultural system in any country of the world.
V. Švachula