APES Chapter 12 Study Guide

The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals

Zero hunger, good health, climate action, responsible consumption, no poverty, clean water, decent work, reduce inequalities, life below waters, life on land, quality of of life, equal gender, education, cities, partnerships 

Six Major Ways of Agriculture

A. Halting ecological succession: Agriculture prevents natural progression to a stable ecosystem (like a forest) by repeatedly resetting the landscape to maintain early successional stages for crop production.

B. Monocultures: singular species crop land

C. Rows: Crops planted in neat lines

D. Simplification: Agro-ecosystems are simple

E. Plowing: Mechanical turning and breaking up of soil to plant.

F. Genetic Modification: Genetic changes in DNA

Which biomes have been most impacted by large-scale agriculture?

Temperate grasslands and tropical forests. 

Describe two characteristics of “Traditional farming”:

Limited technology and inputs, uses traditional knowledge

Though it may go without saying, how does social instability influence agriculture and food production?

Differences in food security, labor, distribution of farming can determine the types of agriculture

Describe three potential drawbacks of international food-aid:

Money, transportation, lowers price of food

One major factor that many demographers, agricultural economists, and ecologists see as currently* being the key to food production:

Yeild

Marasmus and Kwashiorkor

Marasmus- overall low calorie intake

Kwashiorkor- Low nutrient intake like low protein

 Identify two major types of/categories of malnutrition in the United States:

Undernutrition (not getting the proper nutrients)

Overnutrition (over eating excess amount of calories and nutrition.)

According to the Centers for Disease Control, how many Americans live in food deserts?

19 million 6.5% of the population

Food desert: geographic area where residents have limited access to affordable and nutritious food

“the Big Four”

Wheat, corn, rice, potatoes

Describe two advantages and two disadvantages of aquaculture:

Pro: Food production, economic growth 

Con: environmental degradation, resource depletion

Describe one example of industrial ecology (a resource exchange web), where “waste = food”

Growing Power Farm uses the waste from fish to fertilize plants and cycle the water.

Will McDonough from The Next Industrial Revolution

The Next Industrial Revolution, a concept that reimagines production systems to prioritize sustainability, efficiency, and harmony with the environment. McDonough, an architect and designer, collaborates with chemist Michael Braungart to advocate for the cradle-to-cradle design philosophy.

Describe Liebig’s law of the minimum

 the growth or productivity of an organism or ecosystem is determined by the most limiting factor in its environment

Provide three examples of plant macronutrients and three examples of plant Micronutrients

macro: nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus

micro: iron, zinc, magnesium

Describe the major characteristics of the First Green Revolution

WW2, increase use of synthetic pesticides like DDT, inorganic fertilizers, mechanical trucks, irrigation, monoculture

Describe the major characteristics of the Second Green Revolution

1970, developing nations, rainfall, GMOs dwarf rice and wheat

Interplanting

simultaneously grow several crops on the same plot of land

Polyvarietal Cultivation

plot planted with several varieties of the same crop

Intercropping

2+ different crops grown at same time on a plot

Agroforestry: synonymous with alley cropping

non-woody food crops and trees planted together

Polyculture

a more complex form of intercropping in which many different plants maturing at various times are planted together

Bush fallow

A form of slash-n-burn ag., with a cultivation period of typically 1-3 years, followed by a longer fallow period (not using the land for a period of time) ; (Central & West Africa, India)

What is milpa agriculture?

often incorporating polycultural methods- multiple crops are grown simultaneously on the same plot of land, typically in a rotational system (Central America)

What is swidden agriculture?

also known as fire-fallow cultivation- clearing land for farming by cutting down vegetation and then burning it to prepare the soil; (Latin America, Central Africa, Southeast Asia)

Describe three ways to improve irrigation of agricultural crops

Drip irrigation, parenial plants, soil moisture monitoring

Three categorical food production systems

1. Croplands

2. Rangelands / Pastures /Feedlots / CAFOs

3. Fisheries/Aquaculture

 three potential benefits / advantages, and three potential costs / disadvantages of Organic Farming / Agriculture (from pre-planting, environmental health, “in- field”/ growing stages, harvest, the marketplace, consumer health)

Pros: high profits, less environmental impact, yields the same

Cons: needs to be monitors, more money, more labor

Stuart Oda: Are Indoor Vertical Farms the Future of Agriculture?

Stuart Oda's TED Talk discusses the potential of indoor vertical farming as a solution to modern agricultural challenges. He highlights its ability to provide fresh, sustainable food with minimal space and water usage, addressing concerns such as food security, urbanization, and climate change. Oda emphasizes the scalability of vertical farms in urban areas and their ability to grow crops year-round, independent of weather conditions. He also touches on technological advancements that make these farms more efficient.

 Dirt! The Movie – Dirt! The Movie

 documentary that explores the critical role soil plays in our ecosystem and the ways humans interact with it. It highlights how our relationship with dirt impacts the environment, food production, and overall life on Earth. Featuring voices like Jamie Lee Curtis and Vandana Shiva, it calls for a renewed connection with the earth beneath us.

Will Allen

is a prominent urban farming advocate, particularly known for his work with Growing Power in Milwaukee. He emphasizes the importance of urban farming as a means of fostering community, improving food security, and promoting sustainability. In interviews, he often discusses his work in transforming urban spaces into productive farms, bringing fresh food to underserved areas.

Benefits (advantages) and Costs (disadvantages) of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations(CAFOs)

Pros: Protects bio, profits decrease need or grazing and soil erosion, production is increased

Cons: alot of methane and gases, antibiotic resistance, waste, feedlots take up room

Define / describe Desertification and propose three Potential Prevention Methods;

When the potential yield of a plot of land goes down; reforestation, sustainable farming practice(crop rotation, poly culture, etc), water management

Briefly describe Sheet, Rill, and Gully

Sheet- thin layer

Rill- tiny streams (rivulets)

Gully- Erosion large streams (gullies)

HOW do we cause Soil Salinization?

irrigation -> brings salt minerals to the surface -> drys and leaves a layer on top of the soil; build up of nutrients

Propose TWO methods of dealing with Salinized Soil

Leaching: Flooding the soil with water to wash away excess salts.

Soil Amendments: Adding organic matter or gypsum to improve soil structure and reduce salt concentration.

Contrast First- and Second- Generation Pesticides & provide two examples of each

1st: natural: nicotine, Pyrethrins

2nd: synthetic: DDT, Chlorpyrifo

Advantages of Second-Generation / Synthetic Pesticides

More effective, cost effective,  target action (more narrow spectrum)

Disadvantages of Second-Generation / Synthetic Pesticides:

Envi impact, genetic resistance, health risks

The “Perfect Pesticide”? Prominent Characteristics

Natural, narrow spectrum, cheap, can degrade easily

The Circle of Poison

the practice where pesticides banned in industrialized countries are exported to developing nations, used on crops, and then those same crops are imported back into the original countries, potentially bringing toxic residues with them

Alternatives to Synthetic Pesticides

IPM, natural pesticides, organic farming, cultural practice

IPM = ? What the Goal of an IPM Program IS and what the Goal is

Integrated Pest management: To manage pest populations in an environmentally responsible way, using a combination of biological, cultural, physical, and chemical methods. The emphasis is on reducing pest damage while minimizing the impact on the environment, human health, and non-target organisms.

Explain how the extensive use of synthetic inorganic chemical fertilizers in the upper Midwest of the United States has impacted aquatic biodiversity in the greater Gulf of Mexico aquatic life zone;

eutrophication

What are the major limits to expanding the current Green Revolution (Green Revolutions as we know them up to this point)?

Environmental degradation, climate change, decrease effect of pesticides and fertilizers, economic, biodiversity loss

(how to interpret) the Soil Texture Triangle

1. Sand: The largest soil particles (0.05 mm – 2 mm), which provide good drainage and aeration but low nutrient retention.

2. Silt: Medium-sized particles (0.002 mm – 0.05 mm), which retain moisture and nutrients but are prone to compaction.

3. Clay: The smallest soil particles (less than 0.002 mm), which hold moisture and nutrients but have poor drainage.

Soil Triangle: 30-20-50

A soil mixture of 30% clay, 20% silt, and 50% sand- Sandy Clay Loam

Majoy Factors of Soil

Time, kind of rock, nutrient holding capacity, clay

Soil particles small to big

clay, silt, sand

Perennials vs Annuals

Long lasting plants (orchards) vs Seasonal plants (corn)

IPM methods

vaccuming, hot water, soap, radiation

Polar grasslands

methane, permafrost

Soil Porosity vs Permiability

Permiability is rate and time while Porosity is the hole-i-ness

Humus

really good at holding onto water (water fertility)

Soil Horizon

• O Horizon (Organic Layer):

  • Composed mainly of decomposed organic matter (leaves, plant debris, and humus).

  • Found at the surface in forested or undisturbed areas.

  • Rich in nutrients and critical for plant growth.

• A Horizon (Topsoil):

  • A mixture of minerals and organic material, forming the most fertile soil layer.

  • Darker in color due to high organic content.

  • Essential for agriculture and plant root systems.

• E Horizon (Eluviation Layer):

  • Found beneath the A horizon in some soils.

  • Characterized by the loss of minerals and organic matter (leaching), leaving behind lighter-colored materials like sand or silt.

  • Common in acidic soils.

• B Horizon (Subsoil):

  • Accumulation zone for minerals and nutrients leached from the upper horizons (illuviation).

  • Rich in clay, iron, and aluminum compounds, giving it a denser texture.

  • Lacks organic material compared to the A horizon.

• C Horizon (Parent Material):

  • Composed of weathered rock fragments or unconsolidated material from which the soil develops.

  • Minimal organic content and biological activity.

  • Represents the transition between soil and bedrock.

• R Horizon (Bedrock):

  • Solid, unweathered rock layer beneath the soil profile.

  • Provides the parent material for soil formation but is not part of the active soil.

Alternative to synthetic pestisides

natural predators, sex attractants, ecological control, cultivation

Soil conservation tactics

Terracing, contour planting, strip planting, intercropping, windbreaks

Regulating Aquaculture

regulations (limit catches), Economic (subsidies), protect certain areas, consumer (label certified), by catch (net hatch), ballast water checks

Open ocean aquaculture

raising large carnivore fish on land rather near the shore, reduces escapees, polltuion, protection of mangroves and esturaries, improve management of wastes

ASC

Aquaculture Stewardship Council