Because of Agricultural Practices
The Ogallala Aquifer, a major source of groundwater for U.S. agriculture, is at risk due to this issue.
What is over-extraction or depletion?
This type of pest control method includes substances like rodenticides and insecticides to manage populations.
What is chemical pest control?
The Green Revolution dramatically increased crop yields but also led to environmental challenges such as soil depletion and pesticide resistance. Name one of its key technologies.
What are:
- Pesticide
- Fertilizers
- GMOs?
Rapid, unplanned expansion of urban areas into surrounding rural land is known as this.
What is urban sprawl?
This concept refers to using resources at a rate that allows for natural replenishment without long-term depletion.
What is sustainability?
Aquaculture is a method of farming mainly this type of animal for food.
What are fish?
Waterlogging and salinization are common issues associated with this large-scale agricultural practice.
Crop rotation helps reduce pest populations by preventing them from establishing in one area. This method is a key part of what larger pest control strategy?
What is integrated pest management (IPM)?
GMOs, irrigation, and mechanization are all associated with this historical period of agricultural advancement.
What is the Green Revolution?
Coastal cities can experience saltwater intrusion when excessive groundwater withdrawal lowers this underground water source.
What is an aquifer or the water table?
This method of growing crops on sloped land reduces soil erosion by following the natural topography.
What is terracing?
These structures divide a watershed, controlling water flow for irrigation, energy, or flood prevention, but can disrupt ecosystems.
What are dams?
This method of delivering water directly to plant roots is the most water-efficient but can be expensive to install.
What is drip irrigation?
Fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides are examples of this type of pest management strategy.
What is chemical pest control?
Advancements in irrigation, synthetic fertilizers, and high-yield crop varieties were key aspects of this 20th-century agricultural shift.
What is the Green Revolution?
A major environmental consequence of mining is the pollution of water systems due to acidic runoff from exposed minerals. What is this phenomenon called?
What is acid mine drainage?
Planting trees to restore deforested areas is known as this practice.
What is reforestation?
One of the major environmental concerns with aquaculture is the concentration of waste and disease in these confined areas.
What are fish farms?
This common soil preparation technique disrupts soil structure, increases erosion, and contributes to carbon release.
What is tilling?
This term refers to the use of non-chemical methods, such as introducing natural predators, to control pests.
What is biocontrol?
One of the major environmental drawbacks of the Green Revolution is the excessive use of this type of substance, which can lead to soil degradation and water pollution.
What are chemical fertilizers or pesticides?
This mining method, often used for coal, involves removing entire layers of surface rock to access minerals.
What is strip mining?
Rotational grazing and contour plowing are examples of this type of farming practice designed to minimize environmental harm.
What is sustainable agriculture?
A watershed is an area of land where all water drains to a common location. What is another term for a watershed?
What is a drainage basin?
This traditional farming method clears land using fire, but can lead to deforestation and soil degradation.
What is slash-and-burn farming?
This pest control method uses predatory species, intercropping, and other natural techniques to reduce pesticide reliance.
What is integrated pest management (IPM)?
The Green Revolution introduced this farming method, which reduces genetic diversity and increases vulnerability to pests.
What is mono-cropping?
This term refers to the unwanted rock and waste material removed during mining operations.
What is overburden?
This sustainable practice mimics natural wildfires to reduce excess forest fuel and prevent larger, uncontrolled burns.
What is a prescribed burn?
This type of overfishing bycatch method involves dragging weighted nets across the ocean floor, causing habitat destruction.
What is trawling?