Agriculture Exam 2

Ecosystem Service

The benefits that humans receive from natural ecosystems, such as clean water, pollination, nutrient cycling, and climate regulation. They support both agricultural productivity and overall environmental health.

Multi-Species Mixture

Growing two or more crop species together in the same space. This increases ecological complexity and often improves resource use efficiency and resilience.

Multifunctional Agricultural Systems

These are farming systems designed to produce food while also delivering additional benefits like biodiversity, carbon storage, and cultural value. They aim to balance productivity with ecological sustainability.

Intercrop (intercropping)

The practice of growing two or more crops at the same time in the same field. It takes advantage of complementary plant traits to improve yield stability and resource efficiency.

Monoculture

The cultivation of a single crop species over a large area. It simplifies management but often increases vulnerability to pests, diseases, and soil degradation.

Crop Rotation

The planned sequence of different crops grown in the same field over time. It helps break pest cycles, improves soil fertility, and reduces the need for external inputs.

Svalbard

The home to the Global Seed Vault, which stores backup copies of seeds from around the world. It serves as a long-term insurance policy for global crop genetic diversity.

GRIN

Germplasm Resources Information Network is a U.S. database that catalogs plant genetic resources. It provides researchers and breeders access to germplasm and its associated data.

Crop Wild Relative (CWR)

Wild plant species that are genetically related to domesticated crops. They are valuable for breeding because they often contain traits like stress tolerance and disease resistance.

GMO Crop

A crop is one whose DNA has been altered using transgenic techniques, often involving genes from unrelated species. These modifications create new traits such as herbicide tolerance or insect resistance.

Gene Editing

The precise modification of DNA sequences within an organism. It can add, remove, or alter genes without necessarily introducing foreign DNA.

CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)

A highly efficient gene-editing tool that uses a guide RNA and Cas enzyme to target specific DNA sequences. It allows researchers to make precise changes in genomes with relative ease.

Yield Loss vs. Weed Density

This term describes how crop yield decreases as weed density increases. It is commonly used to predict economic thresholds for weed control decisions.

Weed Seedbank

The collection of viable weed seeds stored in the soil. It determines future weed pressure and is influenced by management practices.

Seed Predation

When animals eat seeds before they can germinate. This can decrease weed seedbanks or reduce crop establishment, depending on the context.

IPM (Integrated Pest Management)

A pest control strategy that combines monitoring, biological control, cultural practices, and targeted pesticide use. Its goal is to minimize economic damage while reducing environmental harm.

Economic Threshold

The pest density at which action should be taken to avoid losing more money than the cost of control. It guides IPM decision-making.

Biological Control

Uses predators, parasites, or pathogens to manage pest populations. It aims to create long-term pest suppression with minimal environmental impact.

Transition Period

The time required for a farm to convert from conventional to organic production. During this period, farmers must follow organic rules but cannot yet market products as organic.

OMRI

Organic Materials Review Institute evaluates and lists products allowed for use in certified organic farming. Its lists help producers choose compliant fertilizers, pesticides, and amendments.

Yield Ratio (Organic:Non-Organic)

This ratio compares the yields of organic crops to those of conventional crops. It helps assess the productivity gap or advantage between the two systems.

Anthroposophy

A spiritual philosophy founded by Rudolf Steiner that emphasizes holistic relationships between humans and the natural world. It provides the theoretical foundation for biodynamic agriculture.

Rudolf Steiner

An Austrian philosopher who developed anthroposophy and introduced biodynamic farming in 1924. His lectures laid the foundation for spiritual-ecological approaches to agriculture.

Biodynamic Preparations

These are herbal and mineral mixtures used in biodynamic farming to stimulate soil and plant vitality. They are applied in very small amounts and are central to Steiner’s agricultural philosophy.

Bill Mollison

The co-founder of permaculture, a design system for sustainable land management. His work emphasized ecological principles, self-reliance, and regenerative design.

Design Principles

Guidelines used to structure agricultural or ecological systems for resilience and efficiency. In permaculture, they include ideas like stacking functions, using edges, and mimicking natural ecosystems.

New Forest Farm

A well-known U.S. agroforestry demonstration farm based on permaculture design. It showcases tree crops, perennial polycultures, and diversified regenerative agriculture.

Green Roof

A vegetated roofing system that provides insulation, stormwater retention, and habitat. It contributes to urban sustainability by reducing heat islands and improving air quality.

Community Garden

A shared growing space where individuals or groups cultivate plants. It provides fresh food, social connection, and educational opportunities.

Vertical Production

Involves growing crops in stacked layers, often indoors. It maximizes productivity per square foot and can reduce water use and transportation needs.