Define agronomy.

Agronomy is accurately defined as the science of soil management and crop production. This field encompasses a wide range of practices and principles aimed at maximizing crop yield and quality while ensuring sustainable soil health. Agronomists study how different factors such as soil composition, climate, and agricultural technology influence crop growth. They apply their knowledge to create effective cultivation methods, pest management strategies, and soil conservation practices. This focus on both the soil and the crops highlights the integral relationship between them, emphasizing the importance of managing land resources intelligently to support agricultural productivity.

In contrast, the other options relate to different areas of agriculture. The study of animal breeding pertains to the genetics and reproduction of livestock, which is a separate discipline called animal science. Agricultural economics focuses on the economic aspects of agriculture, including the market dynamics and financial practices of farming, which is distinct from the biological and environmental focus of agronomy. The art of cooking with crops is more related to culinary arts than to the scientific and practical aspects of growing and managing crops. Therefore, the correct choice reflects the comprehensive and specialized nature of agronomy in the agricultural sciences.