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59 Cards in this Set
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1. % of the world's land area that's used for agriculture? 2. US' total annual value of agriculture production 3. 3 main environmental effect of agriculture 4. What are farming ecosystems called? 5. Farming creates _____ ecological conditions |
1. 38% 2. 320-350B 3. *commercial fertilizers *chemical insect pesticides *herbicides 4. Agroecosystems 5. novel |
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6 ways that agroecosystems differ from natural systems |
1. Ecological succession is stopped to keep the agroecosystem in an early-successional state 2. Focusses on monoculture- large areas planted with a single species 3. Crops planted in neat rows and fields, making crops vulnerable to pests |
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Cont (cons of genetically modified food) |
4. Most ecosystems require plowing, which is unlike any natural soil disturbance (repeatedly and regularly turned over with a specific depth) 5. Genetically modified crops are becoming popular (expensive/not a lot of diversity/ chemicals) 6. Agricultural globalization |
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Describe fire |
Controlled burning is done more frequently now Done on prairies to burn grass annually b/c the grasses are nutritionally dense (release into the soil), and to keep the area in a early state for farming Changes the soil- repeals more water during rainfall and the soil erodes It is needed to prevent tree colonization |
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Can we feed the world? 1.We must understand ......... 2. 3 requirements |
1. how crops grow and how productive they can be 2. Crops must grow sustainably so that both crop production and agricultural ecosystems remain viable Food must be produced without seriously damaging other ecosystems that receive wastes from agriculture Food must be produced as well as fuel
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Problems of agriculture 2. Which grass is used the most in the US? |
*Continuously plowing causes erosion and the sediment from the erosion may enter the river- covers the surface of the water and bugs won't be able to pass water over their gills *Dumping phosphorus into the rivers causes the reverse effect that providing health- continuous growth of algae which covers the rivers and prevents oxygen in the water-fish die 2. Corn |
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History of agriculture is a ....... |
series of human attempts to overcome environmental limitations and problems: -each solution creates new problems -Should expect side effects of solutions - Creates multiple pressures on agricultural land |
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SOIL TYPE DIAGRAM |
uh |
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1. As the population grows, ..... 2. Food supply is already ____ for some people 3. Increasingly marginal land will need .... 4. What is food supply greatly influenced by? |
1. The production of agriculture must grow 2. Inadequate 3. to be put into production 4. social disruptions and attitudes |
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1. Which continent has the largest crop area per person? Lowest 2. What are the 2 ways that people starve?
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1. Australia; Africa/Asia 2. Undernourishment: lack of sufficient calories in available food Malnourishment: Has the right amount of calories for people's needs but there is a lack of specific chemical component in the person's diet or other essential chemicals |
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1. What way manifests a famine? 2. What are the 3 types of undernourishment diseases? Define |
1. Undernourishment 2. Marasmus- progressive emaciation caused by lack of protein and calories Kwashiokor- a lack of sufficient protein in diet (stomachs extend) Chronic hunger- has enough food to stay alive but can't live satisfactory/productive lives (affects hair nails and skin= during war) |
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1. What does malnourishment cause? E.g. 2. What must world food production supply? 3. Food emergencies affected __ countries worldwide at the end of the 20th century 4. Africa has.... 5. Why?
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1. Doesn't kill outright, but people become less productive and can suffer permanent damage. Lack of iodine- develops a goiter 2. Adequate nutritional quantity and quality 3. 34 4. the most acute food shortages 5. Problems with world food distribution- doesn't meet all caloric needs of people |
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1. What is the best solution to decrease world hunger? 2. Which continents have the most starving population? |
1. Increase local production 2. Africa |
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1. Number of plant species on Earth? 2. 4 crop statistics. 3. E.g.s of very important crops? |
1. 1/2 million species 2. *3000 species are agricultural *150 are cultivated on a large scale *14 crops provide most of the world's food *6 make up 80% of total calories 3. Corn, wheat, rice, soybean, sugarcane, potatoes |
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1. The crops/livestock grown depends on 2 things. 2. Describe from highest altitude to lowest+ DRAW |
1. Slope + altitude 2. *Tundra- extreme climate/steepest slope- nothing *Harsh climate/steep slopes- silviculture *Moderate slopes/descent climate-orchards *Moderate slopes/harsh environment- livestock *Flat lands- Annual crops *Ponds/lakes- Aquaculture |
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1. What's "forage"? 2. What's the most commonly grown forage- statistics? 3. What's the most commonly raised domestic animal? Most commonly eaten? Statistics |
1. Crops grown for domesticated animals 2. Alfalfa- US: 14 million hectares 3. Chickens- 14 billion; goat- 700 million |
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1. Rangeland 2. Pasture 3. There is a large world market in what type of crop and domesticated animal? |
1. Provides food for grazing/browsing animals without plowing and planting 2. Land that's plowed, planted, and harvested to provide forage 3. Small grain crops/cattle (b/c of Brazil eating more) |
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1. % of the Earth's land area used for arid rangeland 2. When is arid rangeland most easily damaged? 3. Discuss livestock's effect on arid rangeland |
1. Around 30% 2. *Most easily damaged by grazing during drought seasons 3. *Much of the land is overgrazed * Livestock trample on the stream bank soil- releases waste into the water *Methane contributes to global warming |
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1. What's a solution to prevent this damage? 2. Define and describe |
1. Confined feeding operations 2. *Confine domesticated animals for more than 45 days during growing seasons in enclosed areas where no proper vegetation grows *There's lack of movement among animals *They get really fat to be sold/killed for meat *Have to meet a certain size threshold |
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1. Soils are not just ___; they are the key to ..... 2. Describe Earth history regarding soil 3. What are horizons? 4. How many main types of soil are there? 5. Discuss general formation of soil + why different soils are different |
1. Dirt; life on land 2. Earth has been modified by chemical, biological and physical processes to form layers 3. Soil layers created by the modified Earth 4. 12 5. Originated by rock- they were broken down into smaller particles by different processes- they are different due to the type of moisture/temperature they occupy |
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1. Soil fertility 2. Soil drainage 3. Which types of soil tends to have a higher fertility? (Age) Why? 4. Which types of soil retains a) the most water b) the least water? |
1. The capacity of soil to supply nutrients for plant growth 2. The ability for soil to let water pass through it 3. Younger types of soil, because they are not as leached as older types of soils. 4. a) Clay b) Sand |
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1. The 3 types of soil particles from largest to smallest particles 2. Which soil particle is the best for growing crops? Why? |
1. Sand, silt, clay 2. Silt- retains water well, but allows water to move through it easily- mixture of particle sizes- high soil fertility |
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Describe the types of horizons from highest to lowest layer |
O- uppermost layer- mostly organic material due to decaying/decayed leaves or twigs- dark brown/black A (sometimes E)- upper horizon- contains minerals and organic material- light brown/black- leached by water (minerals/materials washed away into the zone of accumulation by water)- lack of soil fertility |
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Cont |
B- Zone of accumulation- high soil fertility b/c of leaching- enriched with carbonates, organic materials and other essential nutrients- usually the thickest layer C- Composed of mostly parent material (large/partially broken down rock)- deepest layer- lack of water and nutrients |
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1. Do all areas of land have the same types of horizon compositions? 2. Which main type of soil is the best for growing crops? Why? Appearance? % of land area in US? 3. Has soil erosion decreased in the US? If so, by how much? |
1. No- some layers are shallow than others- less development occurs 2.* Mollisols. *Enriched with organic material- hold water well while still allowing water to move through it. *Thick, dark surface horizon 3. Yes; 43% |
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1. Why has soil erosion decreased in the US? Give examples. 2. What's the Dust Bowl? 3. What caused the Dust Bowl? |
1. Improved farming procedures; using artificial/chemical fertilizers and adding phosphorus in these fertilizers to increase fertility 2. 1935- 850,000,000 tons of topsoil blew off the Southern Plains 3. Poor farming procedures and a long period of drought |
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1. What are the main limiting factors of plant growth? |
1. Lack of chemical elements/any resource needed for plant growth (Liebig's law of the minimum) 2. Two interacting chemicals could cause a synergistic effect on plant growth 3. Change in the availability in one resource could affect the way a plant interacts with another |
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Cont |
1. Chemicals at high levels could be toxic 2. Older soils lack essential micronutrients |
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1. How many chemical elements are needed for plant growth? In what types of conditions? 2. What are macronutrients? E.g 3. What are micronutrients? E.g.s |
1. 20; in the right amounts during the right times of the year/certain environmental conditions 2. Nutrients needed in large amounts; HONC, S, P, Mg, Ca 3. Nutrients needed in very small amounts but very important for survival: Cu, Zn, Fe |
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What are the 4 main features that high quality agricultural soil has? |
1. Contains all chemical elements needed for plant growth 2. Allows water and air to move through the soil easily 3. Hold/retains water well 4. Composed of a mixture of soil particles |
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1. A _____ factor determines the growth and presence of a species 2. How many limiting factors is plant growth affected by at a time? 3. What law are were describing? |
1. single 2. One 3. Liebig's law of the minimum |
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1. What's Liebig's law of the minimum? |
1. If a single factor needed for plant growth is deficient, the growth will be inhibited even if all the other required factors are in surplus. Increasing the supply of the deficient factor will increase plant growth until another factor becomes deficient |
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1. Describe agricultural sustainability? -Crop production sustainability -Ecosystems with cop production sustainability -Strategies |
1. *Crop production can be made sustainable, but its ecosystem may not be *Farmers have to consistently put additional inputs of energy and nutrients to replace what was lost |
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1. What are pests? 2. To farmers, pests are extremely _______ 3. Give 5 examples of pests 4. What's the disadvantage of having pests? |
1. Parasites, competitors, and predators 2. Undesirable 3. nematodes, weeds, insects, bacterial/viral diseases, vertebrates (deer/bunnies) 4. The loss of crops can be extremely large- 1/3 of potential harvest and 1/10 of harvested crop |
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Weed problem: -Conditions that farms are maintained -Advantages/Disadvantages of these conditions -What do weeds compete for? (5) |
-Kept at an early-succesional stage enriched by fertilizers and water -Great area for crops [:)] and great area for early-successional plants (weeds) [:(] -All resources: water, light, carbon dioxide, space, nutrients |
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Pesticide History: Stage 1 -what they used -what they tried to find -What was their goal -Cons -E.g.s |
-Broad spectrum inorganic toxins -Chemicals that would reduce the abundance of pests -To create narrow spectrum pests -*Failed in their goal by creating broad spectrum toxins *Killed pests and beneficial organisms -Arsenic |
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Stage 2 -What they used -Cons -E.g |
-Petroleum-based sprays and natural plant chemicals -Weren't as effective as they thought -Nicotine |
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Stage 3 -What they used -Cons -E.gs with characteristics/functions 2. Broad vs Narrow Pesticides |
-Artificial organic compounds -*Toxic to humans; found in breast milk *Secondary outbreaks *Pests develop resistance *Thin shells -DDT (broad); aldrin/dieldrin (control termites) 2. Narrow pesticides are species-specific while broad spectrum kills many different types |
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Stage 4: -Overall strategy -2 main methods |
-Apply ecological and biological knowledge -*Integrated pest management *Biological control |
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1. What is IPM? 2. What is IPM's main goal? Why? 3. What does IPM use? |
1. Integrated pest management 2. Not to eliminate pests complete but to control them/to reduce the use of artificial pesticides ; makes sense economically (less money used) and does less damage to the eco, soil, water and air 3. A combination of methods: biological control, chemical pesticides, methods of planting crops |
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1. What is biological control? 2. E.gs (most effective at top) [5] 3. What type of method is trying to be used by farmers to reduce pests regarding crop production? |
1. Using biological predators and parasites to control pests. 2. -parasitic wasps (effective + narrow spectrum) -Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) (safe + effective) -Aphids -Sex pheromones (chemical released to attract opposite sex and trap them) -Bacterial disease of insects sprayed from air craft |
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1. What are the 3 major technological approaches to agriculture? |
1. Modern mechanized agriculture 2. Resource-based agriculture 3. Bioengineering |
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1. What's modern mechanized agriculture? 2. What's resource based agriculture? |
1. Using only technological methods for agriculture- little use biological technology 2. Uses biological technology and the conservation of land, water and energy |
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1. What are the 6 main ways that crop production can keep up with population growth? |
1. Increased production per acre 2. New crops/hybrids 3. Better irrigation systems 4. Eat lower on food chain 5. Organic food 6. GMOs |
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1. Increasing production per acre is drive by ____ 2. Characteristics of new/unused crops? 3. What's the green revolution? |
1. technology 2. -Grow better in poorer agricultural soil -More resistant to disease -Produce higher yields 3. Programs that have led to the development of what was mentioned above |
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1. How are better irrigation techniques beneficial? 2. What are the two examples of better irrigation techniques? Describe |
1. Increases crop production while using less water in the process 2. Drip irrigation- water is directly delivered to the root zone of the plant Hydroponics- plants are grown without soil- roots in moving water with constant nutrients in them |
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1. Why is eating lower on the food chain beneficial? 2. What are the 3 qualities of organic farming? 3. Organic farming is one of the _______ growing sectors in U.S. agriculture |
1. Some areas of land can produce 10-100 times more vegetation than meat per year 2. -Less monocultural; more natural -Minimizes negative environmental impacts -The food that results doesn;t contain artificial compounds 3. fastest |
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1. Differences between natural and organic foods |
*Applies chemical fertilizers/Applies natural fertilizers (manure) *Sprays synthetic insecticides/spray insecticides from natural sources, biological control, traps *Uses synthetic herbicides/Use environmentally-friendly plant-killing compounds, rotate crops, hand weed *Give antibiotics/Clean housing, balanced diet |
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1. What's genetically modified food? 2. What are some of the several practices of genetic engineering in agriculture? |
1. Food that has specific genetic characteristics transferred to it from: one individual to another, one population to another, one species to another. 2. *Faster, efficient ways to make hybrids *Introduction of the terminator gene *Transfer of genetic properties from widely divergent kinds of life. |
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1. What is genetic engineering from an environmental perspective? |
A way to develop hybrids within a species that are likely to be as benign as the development of agricultural hybrids has been with conventional methods |
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Pros of GMOs |
-More food: boosts yield by being able to live through droughts, cold temps and diseases. -Less stress on the environment- less toxic chemicals -Better products- more nutrients, last s longer, tastes better |
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Cons of GMOs |
-Rise in super-weeds: Resistant crops can interbreed with weeds that can be resistance to herbicides- difficult to control -Health problems: All effects are unknown= allergic reactions -Frankenfood- Long-term effects of transferring genes could cause common crops to change weirdly |
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1. What are Roundup Ready Crops? 2. What's Round Up? 3. Types of Roundup ready Crops and those under development? |
1. Crops genetically modified to be resistance to the Roundup and are sterile 2. Herbicide produced by Monsanto 3. Soy, corn, alfalfa, cotton; wheat |
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1. What's a terminator gene? 2. Why are terminator genes used? 3. Cons of terminator genes? 4. E.g. |
1. A gene that makes seeds sterile 2. -Economic/environmental reasons *Prevents GMO from spreading *Protects the market for the corporation that developed it 3. *Farmer's in poor nations must be able to grow next year's crops with own seeds- expensive to keep on buying *Genes are transferred from one major life form to another= undesirable (weeds) |
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Describe BT Pros and Cons of BT plants |
1. Produces toxins that kills caterpillars- gene identified and transferred to corn- corn produces its own pesticide 2. ;)Constructive in pest control- no longer have to spray ;(Produce toxins in all cells even pollen that spreads- kills pollinators |
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Concern of Transfer genes |
Concern worldwide about the political, social, and environmental effects of GMOs |
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1. How is freshwater food currently obtained? Disadvantage? 2. What's aquaculture? 3. Importance of aquatic habitats? 4. What's mariculture? |
1. By hunting; not sustainable 2. The farming of food in aquatic habitats 3. Provides organisms that are an important protein source. 4. The farming of ocean fish |
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Pros of aquaculture? (4) Pro of mariculture? |
;)Extremely productive on a per-area basis :)Flowing water brings food into the pond from the outside :) Can exploit niches in the pond :) May be able to utilize waste products (treated sewage) 2.:)Increases production of oysters and mussels |
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Cons of aquaculture (3) |
:(Fishponds and marine fish kept in shallow enclosures :(Wastes fro fish and chemicals can pollute local water environment :Possible damage to local biological diversity (escape + damage eco community) . |
