Unit 5B APES

5.3 - The Green Revolution 

• Describe changes in agricultural practices that the green revolution brought to farming. 

  • Technology, fertilizers, mechanics, irrigation expansion, single cropping systems, hybrid seeds, Intensification of Land Use

• Who is Norman Borlaug and what did he contribute to the green revolution?

  • Norman Borlaug calls himself the father of the Green Revolution - a plant scientist  

  • He helped create higher crop yields and disease-resistant crops 

  • Introduced modern agriculture activities and expanded agricultural production 

  • Increased food supplies and economic growth 

5.4 - The Impacts of Agricultural Practices 

• Describe agricultural practices that cause environmental damage.

  • Deforestation reduces biodiversity and increases carbon levels. 

  • Overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides leads to soil degradation and water pollution due to runoff

  • Monoculture farming depletes soil nutrients and increases venerability to pests and diseases, leading to greater pesticide and fertilizer use

  • Overgrazing damages vegetation leading to soil erosion, desertification, and loss of usable land

  • Excessive Irrigation depletes groundwater reserves and causes soil salinization reducing long-term soil fertility. 

  • Soil erosion leads to loss of topsoil decreasing agricultural productivity

  • The use of GM crops can lead to a reduction in genetic diversity and make crops more vulnerable to pests and diseases in the long term 

5.5 - Irrigation Methods

• Identify different methods of irrigation.

• Describe the benefits and drawbacks of different methods of irrigation. 

Surface: Water flows over the soil by gravity 

Drip: Water drips directly to roots through tubes and emitters 

Sprinkler: Water sprayed through nozzles under pressure, mimicking rain 

Center Pivot: The rotating sprinkler system moves around a central pivot, watering in circles 

Subsurface: Water delivered underground directly to root zones 

Flood: The entire field is flooded with water, commonly used for rice 

Surface Pro: Low cost, Easy to use, no pumps needed

Surface Con: uneven water distribution, soil erosion, water waste

Drip Pro: Water Efficient, reduces evaporation, precise application

Drip Con: Expensive, requires maintenance, clogs easily

Sprinkler Pro: Covers large areas, uniform distribution, automatic

Sprinkler Con: Wind Drift, evaporation loss, high energy use

Center Pivot pro: good for large farms, less labor intensive

Center Pivot Con: High installation cost, uneven on slops

Subsurface Pro: saves water, prevents weed growth, consistent moisture

Subsurface Con: Expensive, hard to detect leaks, salt buildup

Flood Pro: simple, good for rice, weed control

Flood Con: Wastes water, risk of root rot, soil erosion, water logging.

5.6 - Pest Control Methods 

• Describe the benefits and drawbacks of different methods of pest control. 

  • Chemical control: Uses synthetic chemicals to kill pests 

    • Fast, effective, easy to apply

    • Can harm beneficial organisms, cause pollution, pests may develop resistance 

  • Biological control: Using natural predators, parasites, or pathogens to manage pests 

    • Environmentally friendly, long-term solutions, reduce pesticide use 

    • Slow, may not eliminate all pests, can disrupt ecosystems 

  • Cultural control: changing farming practices (crop rotation, intercropping) to prevent pests 

    • Reduces pest build-up, improves soil health, low cost

    • Requires planning, may not work for all pests, labor-intensive 

  • Genetic control: Developing pest-resistant crops through breeding or genetic modification 

    • Reduces pesticide use, long-term effectiveness

    • Expensive research, potential ecological concerns, public resistance to GMOs

  • Integrated pest management (IPM): Combining multiple pest control methods for a balanced approach 

    • Sustainable, reduces pesticide use, minimizes environmental impact

    • Requires knowledge, potential ecological concerns, and public resistance to GMOs 

5.7 - Meat Production Methods 

• Identify different methods of meat production.

• Describe the benefits and drawbacks of different methods of meat production.

  • Industrial/Factory Farming: High-density livestock farming using controlled environments and concentrated feed.

    • High production efficiency, lower costs, meets high demand.

    • Ethical concerns, pollution, antibiotic resistance, poor animal welfare.

  • Pasture-Raised (Free-Range): Animals graze on open land with access to natural diets.

    • Better animal welfare, healthier meat, and environmentally sustainable.

    • Requires more land, higher costs, and slower production.

  • Organic Meat Production: Livestock raised without synthetic hormones, antibiotics, or GMOs, fed organic diets.

    • No synthetic chemicals, better for the environment, higher quality meat.

    • More expensive, lower yield, stricter regulations.

  • Grass-Fed: Animals eat a diet based entirely on grass rather than grain.

    • Healthier meat (higher in Omega-3s), natural diet, environmentally friendly.

    • More land is needed, a longer time to reach market weight and a higher cost.

  • Cell-Cultured (Lab-Grown) Meat: Meat grown from animal cells in a lab without raising animals.

    • Reduces environmental impact, no animal slaughter, potential for sustainable mass production.

    • Expensive to produce, consumer acceptance is uncertain, and technology is still developing.

  • Hunting & Wild Meat: Harvesting wild animals for food.

    • No factory farming impact, natural diet, lean and healthy meat.

    • Not scalable for mass consumption, potential overhunting, and variable supply.

5.14 - Integrated Pest Management (IPM): A sustainable approach to pest control that combines multiple methods (biological, cultural, mechanical, and chemical) to minimize pest damage while reducing environmental impact.

• Benefits:

  • Reduces pesticide use, minimizing environmental and health risks.

  • Sustainable, long-term pest control strategy.

  • Helps prevent pesticide resistance in pests.

  • Improves soil health and biodiversity.

• Drawbacks:

  • Requires extensive knowledge and monitoring.

  • Implementation can be complex and time-consuming.

  • May not provide immediate pest control like chemical methods.

  • Initial setup costs can be higher than conventional methods.

5.15 - Sustainable Agriculture 

• Describe sustainable agricultural and food production practices

  • Agroecology: Integrates ecological principles to promote biodiversity and soil health.

  • Crop Rotation/Polyculture: Involves rotating crops and growing multiple types of crops together to reduce pests and improve soil fertility.

  • Organic Farming: Avoids synthetic chemicals and GMOs, relying on natural fertilizers and pest control.

  • Conservation Tillage: Reduces soil disturbance, improving water retention and preventing erosion.

  • Water Conservation (Drip Irrigation, Rainwater Harvesting): Uses efficient water delivery systems and collects rainwater for agricultural use.

  • Permaculture: Designs farming systems that mimic natural ecosystems for long-term sustainability.

  • Agroforestry: Combines trees with crops or livestock to enhance biodiversity and improve soil health.

Local/Seasonal Food Production: Focuses on producing and consuming food that is grown locally and in-season to reduce environmental impact.