Agriculture
What is the most commonly grown crop in the United States
The overuse of this substance endangers both livestock and human health
Antibiotics
Commonly used construction materials contribute strongly to this effect of natural disasters
Flooding
This was the first form of irrigation that was widely adopted by ancient civilizations
Flood/Furrow
Name one benefit and one cost associated with genetically engineering crops
Benefits: Larger yields, greater tolerance for environmental conditions, pest resistance
Cons: Monoculture, patented genes
This is the most widely used form of chopping down forests to get wood
Clearcutting
Name two benefits associated with urbanization
Easier food access
More social opportunities
Less greenhouse gases related to cars
This is the rough amount of water that is wasted by spray irrigation
30-40%
This was perhaps the most important agricultural innovation of the 20th century
Haber-Bosch Process
This type of tree cutting is highly sustainable but not especially efficient or profitable
Selective Cutting
Overuse of these two materials contribute strongly to increased temperatures within cities
Asphalt and concrete
These are 2 common issues associated with soil quality when one relies on furrow and flood irrigation
Increased soil salinity and soil erosion
Name a benefit and a cost associated with monoculture
Benefits: Easier to do, you can use specific fertilizers, reduced cost from not needing to buy different types of heavy machinery for different crops
Costs: Rapid depletion of soil nutrients, easy for disease and pests to spread
Using this instead of grass for cow feed has horrifyingly negative effects on cow health
Corn husks
This term describes the process by which the areas surrounding cities convert into suburban use
Urban sprawl
This form of irrigation is expensive but highly efficient at not wasting water
Drip irrigation
Name a benefit and cost associated with using heavy machinery
Benefits: Rapid transformation of "wild" land into easy-to-farm land, quicker and easier collection of crops
Costs: Rapid destruction of soil, runoff, decreased biodiversity
This is what CAFO stands for
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation
This is the name of the former Land Fill in Staten Island that is now a park
Fresh Kills Landfill
This is the name of porous, underground rock that can store groundwater over long periods of time
Aquifer