APES Unit 5

bycatch

bycatch are the species of creatures that were not purposely caught and are usually thrown overboard either dead or dying. In addition to wasting food, this can deplete the populations of bycatch species

CAFO (concentrated animal feedlot operation)

an industrial-sized livestock operation; houses millions of animals

crop rotation

planting a series of different crops in a field over a number of years, with each crop being chosen to add nutrients back to the soil that were depleted by the previous crop.

drip irrigation

a precise method that delivers small amounts of water directly to the roots of plants through tubes or pipes with emitters

EIS - environmental impact statement

a government document that outlines the impact of a proposed project on its surrounding environment

furrow irrigation

farmers flow water down small trenches running through their crops

green revolution

a period of technological innovation (1950-1970) which has allowed for increased crop yields.

Impervious Surfaces

Surfaces which do not allow penetration by water; rooftops, driveways, sidewalks, etc.

Intercropping

the process of growing at least two crops at the same time in the same field. This strategy is helpful for more biodiversity and helps with weed control.

IPM - integrated pest management

a combination of methods used to effectively control pest species while minimizing the disruption to the environment. These methods include biological, physical, and limited chemical methods such as biocontrol, intercropping, crop rotation, and natural predators of the pests.

Limestone

soil amendment made from ground limestone rock, which naturally contains calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. When lime is added to the soil, these compounds work to increase the soil's pH, making the soil less acidic and more alkaline.

Monocropping

growing the same crop year after year in a single field

MSY - maximum sustainable yield

the largest yield (catch) that can be taken from a specific fish stock over an indefinite period under constant environmental conditions

NEPA - national environmental policy act

United States environmental law that promotes the enhancement of the environment; 1970

no till agriculture

technique for growing crops or pasture without disturbing the soil through tillage. No-till farming decreases the amount of soil erosion tillage causes in certain soils, especially in sandy

Pesticide

substances, either natural or synthetic, that kill or control pests

Prescribed Burn

the controlled application of fire by a team of fire experts under specified weather conditions to restore health to ecosystems that depend on fire

rotational grazing

only one portion of the pasture is grazed at a time while the remainder of the pasture "rests"

shifting agriculture

a plot of land is cleared and cultivated for a short period of time; then it is abandoned and allowed to revert to its natural vegetation while the cultivator moves on to another plot.

strip mining

form of surface mining that is employed to strip away a layer or seam of soil, natural vegetation, and rocks (known as overburden) to extract the mineral deposits underneath.

tailings

materials that are left over after the minerals have been extracted from the ore

urban sprawl

expansion of cities into rural areas

water logging

water completely saturates soil starves plant roots of oxygen, rots roots

windbreaks

Rows of trees or high-standing bushes are planted to prevent wind effects and block out direct impact