Key Environmental and Agricultural Vocabulary

Forest

A large area covered chiefly with trees and undergrowth.

Deforestation/Reforestation

The process of clearing forests and the subsequent planting of trees.

Prescribed burn

A fire set intentionally to manage forest health.

Bark Beetle

A type of insect that infests and damages trees.

Surface Fire

A fire that burns along the forest floor.

Crown Fire

A fire that spreads rapidly through the tops of trees.

Sustainable Forestry

Forest management that meets current needs without compromising future generations.

Plate Tectonics

The theory explaining the movement of the Earth's lithosphere.

Convergent Boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where plates collide.

Divergent Boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where plates move apart.

Transform Boundary (fault)

A tectonic plate boundary where plates slide past each other.

Subduction

The process where one tectonic plate moves under another.

Volcano

An opening in the Earth's crust through which lava erupts.

Earthquake

A sudden shaking of the ground caused by tectonic movements.

Sea floor spreading

The process by which new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges.

Island arc

A chain of islands formed by volcanic activity.

Hot spot

An area in the mantle from which heat rises as a thermal plume.

Tsunami

A series of ocean waves caused by underwater disturbances.

Soil

The upper layer of earth in which plants grow.

Weathering

The process of breaking down rocks and minerals.

Erosion

The process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface.

Decomposition

The process of breaking down organic matter.

Organic material

Material that comes from living organisms.

Soil horizons

Layers of soil that differ in color and texture.

Soil triangle

A tool used to determine soil texture based on particle size.

Permeability

The ability of soil to transmit water and air.

Porosity

The measure of void spaces in a material.

Cation Exchange Capacity

The ability of soil to hold and exchange cations.

Water holding capacity

The ability of soil to retain water.

Surface mining

The extraction of minerals from the surface of the Earth.

Subsurface mining

The extraction of minerals from beneath the Earth's surface.

Limestone

A sedimentary rock composed mainly of calcium carbonate.

Ore

A naturally occurring solid material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be extracted.

Mine Tailings

The waste material left after the extraction of valuable minerals.

Overburden

The material that lies above a mineral deposit.

Strip mining

A method of mining that involves stripping away the overburden.

Acid mine drainage

The outflow of acidic water from metal mines.

Mine reclamation

The process of restoring land after mining.

Black Lung disease

A respiratory disease caused by inhaling coal dust.

Drop Irrigation

A method of irrigation that delivers water directly to the roots of plants.

Flood irrigation

A method of irrigation where fields are flooded with water.

Furrow Irrigation

A method of irrigation that involves creating furrows to direct water.

Spray Irrigation

A method of irrigation that sprays water onto crops.

Water table

The level below which the ground is saturated with water.

Aquifer

A geological formation that can store and transmit water.

Groundwater recharge

The process by which water enters an aquifer.

Hydroponics

A method of growing plants without soil, using mineral nutrient solutions.

Gray Water

Wastewater generated from household activities.

Waterlogging

The saturation of soil with water.

Soil salinization

The accumulation of soluble salts in soil.

Aquifer depletion

The reduction of water levels in an aquifer.

Water Table

The upper surface of groundwater.

Subsidence

The gradual sinking of land.

Subsistence agriculture

Farming that provides for the basic needs of the farmer.

Industrial agriculture

Agriculture that uses advanced technology and large-scale production.

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)

An organism whose genetic material has been altered.

Bt organisms

Genetically modified organisms that produce a toxin to kill pests.

Energy subsidy

Financial assistance to support energy production.

Tilling

The agricultural preparation of soil by mechanical agitation.

Plowing

The act of turning over the upper layer of soil.

Slash-and-burn

A method of agriculture involving the cutting and burning of plants.

Sustainable agriculture

Farming that meets current needs without compromising future generations.

Soil conservation

Strategies to prevent soil erosion and degradation.

Agroforestry / shelterbelt

The integration of trees and shrubs into agricultural landscapes.

Fertilizer (Organic/ Synthetic)

Substances added to soil to enhance plant growth.

Pest

An organism that damages crops or livestock.

Pesticide

A chemical used to kill pests.

Herbicide

A chemical used to kill unwanted plants.

Rodenticide

A substance used to kill rodents.

Fungicide

A chemical that kills fungi.

Insecticide

A substance used to kill insects.

Broad-spectrum pesticide

A pesticide that targets a wide range of pests.

Persistence (non-persistent)

The duration a pesticide remains active in the environment.

Pesticide treadmill

A cycle of increasing pesticide use due to resistance.

Pesticide resistance

The ability of pests to survive exposure to pesticides.

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFOs)

Large-scale livestock facilities that maximize production.

Manure lagoon

A storage area for animal waste.

Free-range

A farming practice that allows animals to roam freely.

Overgrazing

Excessive grazing that damages vegetation.

Nomadic Grazing

The practice of moving livestock to find fresh pastures.

Desertification

The process by which fertile land becomes desert.

Integrated pest management

An ecological approach to pest control.

Pheromone Control

Using pheromones to manage pest populations.

Biological control

The use of natural predators to control pest populations.

Organic agriculture

Farming that avoids synthetic chemicals.

Regenerative agriculture

Farming practices that restore soil health.

No-till agriculture

A method of farming that avoids disturbing the soil.

Monoculture / Monocropping

The cultivation of a single crop over a wide area.

Polyculture / Intercropping

The cultivation of multiple crops in the same space.

Crop rotation

The practice of alternating the crops grown in a field.

Contour planting/plowing

Planting along the contours of the land to reduce erosion.

Terracing

Creating flat areas on sloped land for agriculture.

Cover crops

Crops grown to cover the soil and prevent erosion.

Legislation

Laws and regulations governing a specific area.

Delaney Clause of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act

A provision that prohibits the approval of any food additive that causes cancer.