Sustainable Ag
Plowing parallel to natural slopes instead of down the slopes to prevent water runoff and soil erosion.
Contour plowing
Soil is made up of what 3 main particles?
sand, silt, and clay.
a carbon reservoir that stores more carbon than it releases
Carbon sink
Never ending cycle of having to develop new pesticides because pests become resistant to the old ones.
Pesticide treadmill
These are all genetically identical so genetic diversity is decreased and susceptibility to diseases or pests is increased
GMOs
Using trees to block the force of the wind from eroding topsoil.
Windbreaks
How easily water drains through a soil
Permeability
Main reservoir for nitrogen
The atmosphere
Large open pits where manure is stored
Manure lagoon
Two negative consequences of the Green Revolution
soil erosion, biodiversity loss, ground and surface water contamination
Alternate rows of dense crops with rows of less dense crops to prevent runoff from eroding soil
Strip cropping (also called intercropping)
Why is soil important for water?
filters rainwater and runoff by trapping pollutants so cleaner water enters the groundwater and aquifers
Nitrogen fixation
occurs if plants are killed by overgrazing and soil is compacted so much it can't hold water anymore
Desertification
Name of pesticide that thinned shells of eagles and birds killing them before they were born
DDT
What is a crop planted in the off season between harvest and replanting of the main crop
The amount of pore space a soil has
Porosity
Which biogeochemical cycle happens so slow it's often considered a limiting
Phosphorus cycle
4 main methods of irrigation
Furrow, flood, drip, spray
One benefit and one negative of monocropping
highly efficient for harvesting, pesticide and fertilizer application
decreases biodiversity, increases soil erosion, decreases habitat diversity
Limestone
Weathering vs Erosion
Weathering=breakdown of rocks into smaller and smaller pieces.
Erosion=transporting weather rock fragments by wind and rain. Carried to a new location and deposited there.
Main organisms that are responsible for the nitrogen cycle
Bacteria
Denitrification of ammonia in manure produces what
Chemicals that cause algal blooms in surface waters which blocks sunlight from plants in water
Excess Nitrogen and phosphorus
100 bonus points for the term :)