reading quiz 322-330, 370-377 irrigation, pest, sustainable agriculture

what does US use most of its water for

irrigation agriculture, from groundwater and surface dams

aquifer

Pore spaces in permeable layers of rock/sediment underneath the soil storing groundwater

unconfined aquifer

Porous rock covered by soil

confined aquifer

Surrounded by a layer of impermeable rock or clay, delay water flow to or from the aquifer

water table

uppermost level at which the groundwater in a given area fully saturates the rock or soil

groundwater recharge

water from precipitation percolates through the soil into groundwater

spring

• Water that naturally percolates up to the surface

artesian wells

A well created by drilling a hole into a confined aquifer or by pressure in a confined aquifer

recharge rate of unconfined aquifers

• unconfined aquifers recharge quickly and face higher risk of human-caused pollution

recharge rate of confined aquifers

recharge over millennia → water cleaner but unsustainable cs not balanced by recharger

where is water used most

agriculture, industry, and homes

water footprint

Total daily per capita use of fresh water for a country or the world

what kind of agriculture uses a lot of water

grain and meat (beef)

4 types of irrigation

furrow

flood

spray

drip

furrow irrigation 3

oldest; farmer digs trenches, or furrows, along the crop rows, and fills them with water; least efficient

flood irrigation 3

entire field is flooded with water; more disruptive to plant growth but more efficient than furrow; waterlogging risk

spray irrigation 3

water is pumped into an apparatus that has a series of spray nozzles; more efficient; uses more energy and money

drip irrigation 4

slowly dripping hose delivers water directly to the plant roots; most efficient; reduces weed growth, good for perennials; expensive

describe waterlogging from irrigation

• heavy irrigation or rain fills pores and limits oxygen, reducing growth and killing crops

describe salinization from irrigation

irrigation water leaves behind salts that build up, reducing plant growth

describe a specific aquifer depletion from irrigation

ogallala aquifer depleted faster than it can recharge, threatening water supplies in the great plains

impact of overdrawing aquifer 3

lowers water tables, dries springs and wells, and shows the need for more efficient water use

cone of depression

An area surrounding a well that does not contain groundwater, from rapid withdrawal

persistent pesticides

A pesticide that remains in the environment for years to decades

nonpersistent pesticides

Pesticide that breaks down relatively rapidly, usually in weeks or months, and have fewer long-term effects

integrated pest management

An agricultural practice that uses a variety of techniques designed to minimize pesticide inputs

pesticide resistance

A trait possessed by certain individuals that are exposed to a pesticide and survive

benefits of genetic engineering

make crops resistant to pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and control weeds without harming the plants

side effects of genetic engineering

reduces chemical use but also lowers genetic diversity and crop resilience, increasing risk from pathogens

list 4 IPM techniques

crop rotation

intercropping

biocontrol

natural predators

crop rotation

different types of crop species are planted from season to season or year to year on the same plot of land, preventing disease buildup

intercropping

physical spacing of different crops growing at the same time, in close proximity to one another, to promote biological interaction

biocontrol

A shortened term for biological control, it uses biological organism to control agricultural pests

natural predators

Predators that occur naturally in the environment

how can intercropping and biocontrol be used together

• intercropping can encourage insect-eating birds to reduce harmful insects, but predators can cause unintended damage

why is ipm for crops

uses careful monitoring to apply pesticides only when needed, saving money and improving yields

why is ipm good for environment

fewer chemicals, less fossil fuels

sustainable agriculture

Fulfills the need for food and fiber while enhancing the quality of the soil, minimizing nonrenewable resources, and allowing economic viability for the farmer

soil conservation

The prevention of soil erosion while simultaneously increasing soil depth and increasing the nutrient content and organic matter content of the soil

4 Traditional Sustainable Farming Techniques

uses traditional methods to improve soil health and reduce chemical inputs

• agroforestry

• strip cropping

• contour plowing

• terracing

agroforestry

An agricultural technique in which trees and vegetables are intercropped

windbreaks

An agricultural technique that literally plants tall objects that “break” the wind and prevent soil erosion

strip cropping

An agricultural method of planting crops with different spacing and rooting characteristics in alternating sets of rows to prevent soil erosion

contour plowing

Plowing and harvesting parallel to the topographic contours of the land

terracing

An agricultural technique where farms shape sloping land into step-like terraces that are flat

what are modern sustainable farming techniques

developing perennial crops could reduce plowing, prevent erosion

no-till agriculture

no-till agriculture

used in fields of annual crops where farmers do not till or plow the soil between seasons

describe no till agriculture (3)

• crop residues reduce wind/water erosion

• less oxidation keeps more carbon stored in the soil

• increased use of herbicides so weeds don’t outcompete

list 2 soil additives

green manure

limestone

green manure

Plant material deliberately grown in a field with the intention of plowing it under at the end of the season

limestone

A calcium carbonated sedimentary rock that has been ground up or crushed for easy application as fertilizer

rotational grazing

The rotation of farm animals to different pastures and fields to prevent overgrazing

organic agriculture

sustains or improves the soil, without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers

delaney cause

A clause in the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act designed to prevent potentially harmful cancer-causing food ingredients

disadvantages of organic agriculture

labor-intensive, expensive

some practices rely heavily on fossil fuels, tractors, flame weeding