APES - key terms 12/4

Aquifer

Aquifer

An underground formation that contains groundwater

Artificial selection

human directed evolution that selects for traits beneficial to humans based on genetics available

bioaccumulation

the process which toxins or pollutants build up in the tissues of living organisms over time

CAFO

animals raised in densely packed land and fed grain of meal produced from fish (by products)

Contour farming/planting

Plowing and planting across slope of land to help retain water and reduce soil erosion.

Cover crop

a crop grown for the protection and enrichment of the soil.

Fertilization

the addition of mineral nutrients to the soil N P K

FIFRA (law)

U.S. federal agencies regulate sale and use of pesticides under the

Fungicide

kills fungi

GMO's

human directed evolution that selects for traits beneficial to humans that takes advantage of the genetic material of normal incompatible species, thus creating new traits in the host species.

Green Revolution

since 1950 increase in global food production by 88% due to high-intensive industrialized agriculture

Groundwater

the water that is beneath Earth's surface

Herbicide

substance that kills plants

IPM

Integrated Pest Management

Irrigation methods: drip

uses perforated hoses to release small amounts of water to plant roots (5% of water lost to evaporation and runoff, expensive)

irrigation methods: flood

flooding an agriculture field with water (20% of water lost to evaporation and runoff, can lead to waterlogging)

Irrigation methods: furrow

cutting furrows between crop rows and filling them with water. (inexpesive, abt 1/3 of water is lost to evaporation and runoff)

Irrigation methods: spray/overhead

pumping groundwater into spray nozzles across a agriculture field (1/4 of water lost to evaporation and runoff, more expensive, requires energy)

Meat production

raising cattle for human consumption. (increased fourfold between 1961 and 2007)

Pesticide

substance that kills rats, insects, bacteria, etc.

Rodenticide

Pesticide that kills, repels, controls rodents

Salinization

soil degradation process caused by adding irrigated water to dry places that leads to increase accumulation of salts in upper soil layers.

Slash and burn

burning small plots of land in tropical forests for a few years until nutrients are lost and then go to another area.

Strip cropping

Planting regular crops and close-growing plants in alternating rows to reduce depletion of soil nutrients.

Terracing

creating flat platforms in the hillside that provide a level planting surface, which reduces soil runoff from the slope.

Tilling

The turning-over of soil before planting.

Tragedy of the Commons

indiviuals will use shared resources in their own self intrest rather than in keeping the common good

Waterlogging

water accumulated underground and gradually rises water table

Windbreaks

Belts of trees along field edges to reduce wind erosion

Clearcutting

The process of cutting down all the trees in an area at once

Old growth forest

a forest that has never been logged

Second growth forest

a stand of trees resulting from secondary ecological succession

Selective Cutting

cutting down only some trees in a forest and leaving a mix of tree sizes and species behind

Strip cutting

clear-cutting a strip of trees leaving enough to allow natural regeneration