Topics, Concepts, Review Questions
Information, Vocabulary, Main Points: YOUR NOTES
Topics, Concepts, Review Questions
Monoculture- Practice of growing only one
type of plant resulting in
genetic similarity.
Leads to quicker spread of
diseases where a uniform crop
is susceptible to a pathogen.
Produces great yields, but
has a greater drain on soil
nutrients.
Information, Vocabulary, Main Points: YOUR NOTES
A conservation Contour farming –
plan (designed by plowing/planting across the
a soil scientist)
slope rather than up and
might include down.
several
conservation
practices:
Strip-cropping – bands of
close-growing plants (clover,
alfalfa, wheat, oats) are
planted next to a row crop
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(corn, soybeans).
− Ex: Tobacco crops take lots
of humus & nutrients out of
the soil in order to grow. 62
Topics, Concepts,
Review Questions
Strip-cropping of alfalfa and corn
Information, Vocabulary, Main Points: YOUR NOTES
Diversion terraces – ridges of
soil that are constructed along
the land contour; controls runoff
by slowing the speed of flowing
water.
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Topics, Concepts, Review
Questions
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Topics, Concepts,
Review Questions
Information, Vocabulary, Main Points: YOUR NOTES
Waterways – a wide ditch
planted with a permanent
grass cover; it allows surplus
water to run off without
creating gullies.
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Information, Vocabulary, Main Points: YOUR NOTES
Crop rotation – practice of planting
a series of different crops in the
same field.
−Ex: wheat is planted in a field after
corn is harvested, then clover (adds
nutrients back into the soil) is grown
before corn is planted again.
Conservation tillage – minimum
tillage; uses special tillers & planting
machines to disturb the soil as little
as possible while planting crops; soil
not “turned upside down.”
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Topics, Concepts, Review Questions
Information, Vocabulary, Main Points: YOUR NOTES
Cover crops - leaving crop
residues on the land after
crops are harvested;
planting (legumes--nitrogen
fixers) alfalfa, clover, or
(grasses) rye immediately
after a harvest to protect
and hold the soil.
Soil conservation practices in this field include
crop rotation, no-till planting, & cover crops. The
corn has been planted in the residue remaining
after rye was harvested.
productivity- - the amount of food produced per
acre.
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Topics, Concepts,
Review Questions
Information, Vocabulary, Main Points: YOUR NOTES
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Topics, Concepts, Review Questions
Windbreaks (shelterbelts) strips of trees, shrubs, or tall
grasses that are planted in rows
that are perpendicular to the
direction of the prevailing wind;
reduce wind erosion.
Steps toward
more
sustainable
food
production:
Information, Vocabulary, Main Points: YOUR NOTES
We can increase food security by
slowing population growth, reducing
poverty, & decreasing
environmental degradation of the
world’s soils and cropland.
Some people are eating less meat
& switching from energyinefficient beef, pork, &
carnivorous fish to more energyefficient chicken & herbivorous
fish.
This switch can improve health and
increase life expectancy.
Reduces harmful environmental 71
impacts of meat production.
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PRODUCING MORE MEAT
NATURAL CAPITAL
DEGRADATION
Harmful Environmental Effects of
Food Production
Food Production
Biodiversity Loss
• Efficiency of converting grain into
animal protein.
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Soil
-Erosion.
-Loss and
degradation of
-Loss of fertility.
grasslands, forests, -Salinization.
and wetlands.
-Waterlogging.
-Fish kills from
-Desertification.
pesticide runoff.
-Killing wild
predators to protect
livestock.
-Loss of genetic
diversity of wild
crop strains
replaced by
monoculture strains.
Water
-Water waste.
-Aquifer depletion.
-Increased runoff,
sediment pollution,
and flooding from
cleared land.
-Pollution from
pesticides and
fertilizers.
-Algal blooms and
fish kills in lakes
and rivers caused
by runoff of
fertilizers and
agricultural wastes.
Air Pollution
-Greenhouse gas
emissions (CO2) from
fossil fuel use.
-Greenhouse gas
emissions (N2O) from
use of inorganic
fertilizers.
-Greenhouse gas
emissions of
methane (CH4) by
cattle (mostly
belching).
-Other air pollutants
from fossil fuel use
and pesticide sprays.
Human Health
-Nitrates in
drinking water
(blue baby
syndrome).
-Pesticide
residues in
drinking water,
food, and air.
-Contamination
of drinking and
swimming water
from livestock
wastes.
-Bacterial
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contamination
meat.
People in urban areas could save money
by growing more of their own food.
Topics, Concepts, Review Questions
Information, Vocabulary, Main Points: YOUR NOTES
Organic Crops are grown with little or
Agriculture: no use of synthetic pesticides,
synthetic fertilizers, or
genetically engineered seeds.
Livestock are raised without
use of genetic engineering,
synthetic growth regulators,
or feed additives.
Fields must be free of
chemicals for 3 years before
crops grown there can be
certified as organic.
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Topics, Concepts, Review Questions
SOLUTIONS
Organic Farming
- Improves soil fertility.
- Reduces soil erosion.
- Retains more water in
soil during drought
years.
- Uses about 30% less
energy per unit of yield.
- Lowers CO2 emissions.
- Reduces water pollution
by recycling livestock
wastes.
- Eliminates pollution
from pesticides.
- Increases biodiversity
above and below ground.
- Benefits wildlife such
as birds and bats.
Environmental
Benefits of
Organic
Farming over
Conventional
Farming
Ways to
promote
more
sustainable
agriculture:
Information, Vocabulary, Main Points: YOUR NOTES
Waste less food.
Eat less or no meat.
Use organic farming to
grow some of your food.
Buy organic food.
Eat locally grown food.
Compost food wastes.
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