APES 5.4 notes

Welcome and Overview

  • Date: December 16(A) / 17(B)

  • Required Materials:

    • Unit 5 notes handouts

    • Homestead Project Handout

    • Schoology Slides for independent work

  • Reminder: Turn in the soil lab if not submitted in the last class.

Today's Agenda

  • Tasks: Read, watch, and take notes on the following lessons:

    • Lesson 5.4 - Impacts of Agricultural Practices

    • Lesson 5.5 - Irrigation Methods

    • Lesson 5.6 - Pest Control Methods

    • Lesson 5.14 - Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

    • Lesson 5.15 - Sustainable Agriculture

  • Purpose: Use accumulated knowledge and notes to complete the final assignment for MK2 - Independent Homestead Project.

Independent Homestead Assignment

  • Objective: To learn about and demonstrate an understanding of sustainable agricultural practices.

  • Components:

    • Review Topics: 5.4 (Impacts of Agricultural Practices), 5.5, 5.6, 5.14 (IPM), and 5.15.

    • Project Link: Provided separately

  • Time Allocation: Two class periods before Winter Break to work on notes and project, with homework to finish.

  • Due Dates: January 7 (A), January 8 (B), 2026

Topic 5.4: Impact of Agricultural Practices

Learning Intention

  • Objective: Describe agricultural practices that contribute to environmental damage.

Essential Knowledge

  • Different agricultural practices that can cause environmental damage:

    • Tilling

    • Slash and burn farming

    • Use of fertilizers

Monocropping

  • Description:

    • Primarily used for crops like corn, soy, and wheat.

  • Benefits:

    • High efficiency in harvesting and application of pesticides and fertilizers.

  • Drawbacks:

    • Reduced biodiversity due to a singular crop type, often genetically identical, making it vulnerable to pests.

    • Soil erosion risk increases due to exposure when crops are harvested at once.

    • Decreased habitat diversity affecting local species, including pollinators and predators.

Tilling

  • Definition:

    • The agricultural practice of turning over soil to facilitate planting and root growth.

  • Benefits:

    • Eases planting and root establishment.

  • Environmental Impact:

    • Disruption of soil structure and release of sequestered carbon as CO2.

    • Increased CO2 emissions from machinery operations relying on fossil fuels.

    • Increased erosion as root structure is disturbed, leading to loss of topsoil and nutrients over time.

    • Higher levels of particulate matter (PM) can cause respiratory issues in humans and animals, as well as increased turbidity of nearby water bodies.

Slash and Burn Farming

  • Description:

    • A method where vegetation is cut down and burned to clear land for agriculture, mostly practiced in developing countries (e.g., Africa, Indonesian Islands, Central America (Brazil)).

  • Benefits:

    • Clears land and returns nutrients to the soil for subsequent crops.

  • Negative Consequences:

    • Habitat and biodiversity loss, reduced CO2 sequestration and air pollutant filtration due to tree removal.

    • Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions including CO2, CO, N2O, contributing to global warming.

    • Increased PM levels from burning, leading to respiratory issues such as asthma, as well as decreased albedo, raising temperatures in the area.

    • Unsustainability arises as nutrients are quickly depleted, necessitating additional slash-and-burn activities for future crops.

Synthetic (Inorganic) Fertilizers

  • Definition:

    • Man-made chemicals designed to enhance plant growth.

  • Advantages:

    • Provide rapid nutrient delivery and precise control over nutrient application, making them cost-effective for large-scale farming.

  • Disadvantages:

    • No organic matter is returned to the soil, leading to decreased water retention and a lack of soil decomposers.

    • Risk of leaching, where excess nutrients (nitrates & phosphates) are washed into ground and surface waters, causing drinking water contamination and eutrophication, which leads to harmful algal blooms.

Conclusion for Topic 5.4

  • Review Reminder:

    • Watch all AP Classroom Videos for Topic 5.4 from today’s lesson.

    • Make sure to add to your notes as you read and watch the videos.

  • Key Practices to Highlight:

    • Monocropping

    • Tilling

    • Slash-and-burn farming

    • Use of synthetic / inorganic fertilizers