Unit 5 Land and Water Use

Synthetic Fertilizer, benefits and drawbacks

Man-made fertilizer with nutrients from industrial processes. Benefits: quick results, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use Drawbacks: nutrient runoff, soil degradation, impact on soil microbes, potential for plant damage, greenhouse gas emissions

Organic Fertilizer, bemefits and drawbacks

Nutrient source from natural organic materials. Benefits: reduced pollution, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved soil structure, better root development, healthy microorganisms, protected crops, easier for crops to take up nutrients, and low cost Drawbacks: slow nutrient release, application challenges, potential odor issues, potential for nutrient imbalances

Nutrient Runoff

Excess nutrients washing into water bodies.

Soil Degradation

Decline in soil quality and fertility.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Release of gases contributing to climate change.

Aquaculture

Farming aquatic species in controlled environments.

Mangrove Destruction

Loss of coastal forests critical for marine life.

Nutrient Imbalances

Disproportionate nutrient levels affecting plant health.

Deforestation Rate

Current rate threatens primary forests by century's end.

Conversion to Agriculture

Transforming forests into farmland, major destruction cause.

Cattle Ranching where is it found

Common in Latin America.

Soy Farming where is it found

common in latin america

Commercial Logging

Large-scale tree removal for timber and resources.

Road Building

Facilitates access for agriculture and resource extraction.

Forest Fires

350 million hectares lost annually, often intentional.

Biofuel Production

Cultivation for fuel, causing Southeast Asian deforestation.

Oil Palm Plantations

Cultivated for cooking oil and biodiesel.

Soil Health Improvement

Enhancing soil quality through organic fertilizers.

Plant Nutrient Uptake

Ease of nutrient absorption by crops.

Pollutant Release

Discharge of harmful substances from aquaculture.

Healthy Microorganisms

Beneficial soil organisms supported by organic fertilizers.

Application Challenges

Difficulties in applying organic fertilizers effectively.

Odor Issues

Unpleasant smells associated with organic fertilizers.

Urbanization

The growth of urban areas due to migration.

Urban Sprawl

Expansion of urban areas into rural land.

Natural Increase

Population growth from improved food and sanitation.

Push Factors

Negative conditions driving people from rural areas.

Pull Factors

Positive attractions drawing people to urban areas.

Contour Farming benefits and drawbacks

Farming along natural land contours to reduce erosion. Advantages: reducing erosion, improving water quality, increases yield crops Disadvantages: taking a long time

Windbreaks benefits and drawbacks

Rows of trees protecting crops from wind damage. Advantages: increased crop yields, preventing soil erosion, protecting livestock, reducing water run-off, conserving energy Disadvantages: high cost, high maintenance, competition between crops

Strip Cropping benefits and drawbacks

Growing alternating crops in strips to enhance biodiversity. Advantages: reducing erosion, improving water quality, increasing crop productivity, enhancing biodiversity Disadvantages: lots of management challenges, pest issues

Cover Crop benefits and drawbacks

Perennial plants improving soil health and preventing erosion. Advantages: soil health, erosion control, biodiversity Disadvantages: can't harvest, doesn't benefit other crops

No-Till Plowing benefits and drawbacks

Method avoiding soil turning to conserve moisture. Advantages: soil conservation, water restoration, biodiversity, climate change mitigation Disadvantages: weed and pest management, disease risk, herbicides, equipment cost

Crop Rotation benefits and drawbacks

Sequential planting of different crops to improve soil. Advantages: improving soil fertility, enhancing soil structure, prevents soil erosion, increasing crop yields, nutrient efficiency Disadvantages: high labor

Terracing benefits and drawbacks

Creating stepped levels on slopes to reduce erosion. Advantages: reducing erosion, retaining water, improving soil Disadvantages: expensive, high labor, soil loss and run-off

Hydroponics benefits and drawbacks

Growing plants in nutrient-rich water without soil. Advantages: efficient water us, controlled nutrient delivery, no soil-borne disease Disadvantages: high initial set up cost, dependent on consistent electricity

Spray Irrigation benefits and drawbacks

Watering crops using sprinklers for large area coverage. Advantages: covering large areas quickly, can be automated Disadvantages: not water efficient, promoting leaf disease

Flood Irrigation benefits and drawbacks

Flooding fields with water for crop moisture. Advantages: simple and low cost, suitable for row crops, can use existing farm equipment Disadvantages: wasting water, leading to soil erosion

Furrow Irrigation benefits and drawbacks

Water flows through channels between crop rows. Advantages: low cost, can use existing farm equipment Disadvantages: intensive labor, leading to soil erosion, less water efficient

Drip Irrigation

Efficient watering system delivering water directly to roots.

Ecological Footprint

Measure of land and water needed for resource consumption.

Placer Mining

Extracting metals from streambeds using water cannons.

Underground Mining

Tunneling into mineral seams, posing safety risks.

Open Pit Mining

Excavating large holes to access near-surface ore.

Strip Mining

Mining method for coal, involving surface layer removal.

Pesticides

Chemicals used to kill pests in agriculture.

Biocides

Chemicals targeting a wide range of organisms.

Herbicides

Chemicals specifically designed to kill plants.

Insecticides

Chemicals used to eliminate insect pests.

Fungicides

Chemicals that kill fungal pests.

Rodenticides

Chemicals controlling rodent populations.

DDT

Effective pesticide known for persistence and low cost.

Genetic Engineering

Modifying organisms by splicing DNA from others.

GMOs

Genetically modified organisms for enhanced traits.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Organisms with altered genetic material for new traits.

Pest Resistance

Ability of crops to withstand pest damage.

Frost Tolerance

Crops' capability to survive freezing temperatures.

Drought Resistance

Crops' ability to survive with limited water.

Nutrient Tolerance

Crops' capacity to thrive in low nutrient soils.

Salinity Tolerance

Crops' ability to grow in salty conditions.

Nutritional Enhancement

Improving protein or vitamin content in crops.

Oral Vaccines in Foods

Vaccines incorporated into edible plants like bananas.

Pharmaceutical Production in Animals

Animals modified to produce drugs in their milk.

Superweeds

Weeds resistant to pesticides due to GMO use.

Biodiversity Reduction

Decrease in native species due to GMOs.

Novel Toxins

New toxic substances potentially created by GMOs.

Economic Disparity

Wealthy access to GMO technology, harming poor farmers.

Green Revolution

Agricultural transformation increasing crop yields globally.

High Responders

Plants requiring fertilizers and pest protection for yield.

Monoculture

Planting one crop in a designated area.

Mechanized Monoculture

Industrial agriculture reliant on machinery.

Polyculture

Planting multiple crops in the same area.

CAFOs

Large enclosures for intensive livestock feeding.

Bioremediation

Using organisms to remove environmental toxins.

Mitigation

Compensating for ecological damage elsewhere.

Ecological Restoration

Restoring degraded ecosystems to their native state.

Reclamation

Cleaning severe pollution to create functional ecosystems.

Bioaccumulation

Accumulating toxins in an organism's body.

Biomagnification

Increasing toxin levels in higher trophic organisms.

Eutrophication

Nutrient enrichment causing aquatic overgrowth.

Rachel Carson

Pioneered awareness of pesticide dangers in 1962.

George Washington Carver

Promoted crop rotation and soil health.

Gregor Mendel

Father of genetics; improved breeding accuracy.

Soil Erosion

Loss of topsoil due to lack of cover.

Genetic Diversity Loss

Reduced variety from planting identical seeds.

Pesticide Overuse

Excessive pesticide application leading to resistance.

Fossil Fuel Dependency

Reliance on fossil fuels over human labor.

Hybrid Seeds

Genetically engineered seeds for uniform crops.

Nutrient Depletion

Soil nutrient loss from no crop rotation.

Algal Bloom

Rapid algae growth due to nutrient influx.

Antibiotic Use in Livestock

Prevents disease in high-density animal farming.

Persistent Pesticides

Chemicals that remain in the environment long-term.

DDT

Banned pesticide known for environmental persistence.

Mercury

Heavy metal that biomagnifies in ecosystems.

PCBs

Industrial chemicals that bioaccumulate in food chains.

Energy Efficiency

Optimizing energy use in agricultural practices.