1: Why do pig farmers have to feed their pigs “junk-food”?
The cost of feeding pigs junk food is cheaper than conventional food
2: Explain how agroecosystems halt ecological succession.
Agroecosystems halt ecological succession since growing crops in early successional states mean they grow rapidly
3: What is the problem with growing “monocultures”?
Monoculture make crops vulnerable to attack by diseases or changes in the environment
4: Why does growing plants in neat rows and fields make it easier for pests?
There is nothing preventing or hiding growing plants from pests therefore they are vulnerable
5: How does plowing fields over and over damage the soils? Explain.
Constant plowing causes soil to erode causing damage to physical structure and loss of organic matter and chemical elements.
6: What are the other 2 ways that agrocultures are harmful to ecosystems?
Agroculture lacks multiple layers of soil and when constantly plowed it is unsustainable
7: How much of the top soil in the U.S. has been lost since European settlement?
One third of the top soil in the U.S has been lost since European settlement
8: What percentage of the world’s land area is used for agriculture?
38% of world's land is used for agriculture
9: What is the difference between undernourishment and malnourishment?
Undernourishment is when a person doesn't consume enough calories or food in order to work. Malnourishment is the lack of certain chemicals like vitamins.
10: Why does providing food aid to countries in need actually work against increased availability of locally grown food?
Farmers don't get any profit from provided food aid which means they only lose but don't profit
11: Most of the world’s food is produced by only ___14 _ species. List them below in order of importance:
wheat, rice, maize, potatoes, sweet potatoes, manioc, sugarcane, sugar beet, common beans, soybeans, barley, sorghum, coconuts, and bananas
12: What is a forage crop?
Food grown for domestic animals.
13: Define the following:
Rangeland: Provides food for grazing/browsing animals without the need for plowing or planting
Pasture: Forage that is plowed, planted, and harvested
14: What impact does the number of livestock around the world have on rangeland and pasturelands?
More than 34 million kilometers are used for permanent pastures. Half of the Earth's land is used as a rangeland.
15: Why are feedlots considered to be a big source of local pollution?
Feedlots are crowded pens of cattle that are fed grain and forage. Due to this manure builds up and pollutes local streams.
16: What is a benefit of farming animals rather than crops?
Land too poor for the growth of crops can be used as rangeland that can feed domestic livestock
17: How does rainwater affect the soil horizon? Explain.
Since rainwater is slightly acidic, therefore when it goes into the soil nutrionally important elements such as iron are leached.
18: What is soil fertility? How it is determined?
Soil fertility is the maximum amount of nutrients a soil can provide for plants
19: Why are soils in humid and tropical areas considered to be poor? What happens to them after deforestation?
The soils in humid and tropical areas are poor amount of nutrients, therefore after deforestation it is difficult for reforestation to occur
20: What is the problem with soils in semi-arid regions?
Soils that accumulate clay minerals may swell and cause cracks in structures
21: Why are coarse-grained soils more susceptible to erosion that soils that contain more clay?
Coarse-grained soils contain small clay particles that retain water and prevent movement of the water which causes the clay to erode
22: Soil Horizons: Define each of the soil horizons
Horizon O: Upper horizon with the most organic material
Horizon A: Upper horizon composed of both mineral and organic materials
Horizon E: Composed of light-colored materials resulting from leaching of clay,calcium,magnesium and iron
Horizon B: Enriched in clay, iron oxides, silica, carbonate or other material leached from overlying horizons
Horizon C: Composed of partially altered parent material
Horizon R: Unweathered parent material
23: What is the difference between organic and inorganic (artificial) fertilizers?
Organic fertilizers are made naturally, they improve both chemical and physical characteristics of soil. Artificial fertilizers are made industrially.
24: Define the following:
Macronutrient: Chemical element required by all living things in large amounts
Micronutrient: chemical element required in small amounts by all life forms or in moderate to small amounts for some forms of life.
Limiting Factor: A factor that is limiting and if that factor isn't improved, nothing else will make a difference.
25: In the U.S, how much of the potential harvest is lost to pests?
1/3 of potential harvest is lost to pests.
26: What is the definition of a weed?
A plant in a place we do not want it to be.
27: What are the differences between inorganic and organic pesticides?
Inorganic pesticides are pesticides in forms of inorganic chemicals. Organic pesticides are made from organic compounds.
28: What are some of the reasons why pesticides are considered to be ineffective?
Pests can create a resistance and then can reproduce pests that can also have a resistance to that pesticide, so that pesticide has no use.
29: Define Integrated Pest Management (IPM) AND explain HOW it works:
IPM is the idea that the goal can be control rather than complete elimination of a pest. It uses a combination of methods, including biological control, certain chemical pesticides and some methods of planting crops.
30: What is the use of biological control and give an example:
Biological control is the use of one species that is a natural enemy to another. An example is BT which is a disease to caterpillars.
31: What was the “green revolution”?
Green revolution were programs that led to the development of crops with higher yields, increased resistance to disease, and resistance to enviromental or climate change
32: What are the 3 practices of genetic engineering?
1. faster more efficient ways of developing hybrids
2. introduction of the terminator gene
3. transfer of genetic properties from widely divergent kinds of life.
33: What are the PROS and CONS of developing hybrid crops?
PRO- lead to hybrids that require less fertilizer, pesticide and water
CON-may produce superhybrids that can grow where they are not wanted and become pests
34: What is the terminator gene and what does it do?
A terminator gene makes seeds from a crop sterile and prevents GMOs from spreading
35: What are the political and social concern with companies using seeds with terminator genes?
Terminator gene will allow U.S and corporations to control the world food supply.
36: How are GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) helpful?
GMOs can give food new nutrient benefits and higher crop yield
37: How can GMO’s be harmful?
GMOs can cause diseases in all living organisms
38: What is aquaculture and how can it be helpful?
Aquaculture is farming of marine organisms which can provide food of high nutritional quality free of pollutants present in marine organisms in the ocean
39: What is mariculture?
Mariculture is the farming of ocean fish although it only produces a small percentage of fish supplied for consumption
40: How can aquaculture and mariculture harmful to the environment?
Fish in ponds and the ocean release waste causing pollution of local environments damaging biodiversity
1: How might dietary changes in developed countries affect water availability?
If diets are changed according to water consumption water use can be significantly reduced
2: How might global warming affect estimates of the amount of water needed to grow crops in the 21st century?
Global warming will cause more droughts increasing demands for water in order to sustain crops being grown
3: Withdrawing water from aquifers faster than the replacement rate is sometimes referred to as “mining water”. Why do you think this term is used?
Since in the same way valuable rocks that are mined for often never replenish or will take long periods of time to come back
4: Many countries in warm areas of the world are unable to raise enough food, such as wheat, to supply their populations. Consequently, they import wheat and other grains. How is this equivalent to importing water?
The wheat had to grow in suitable environments and is equivalent to importing water since countries in need of water to meet demands need t import water from elsewhere
5: Malthusians are those who believe that sooner or later, unless population growth is checked, there will not be enough food for the world’s people. Anti-Malthusians believe that technology will save the human race from a Malthusian fate. Analyze the issue of water supply for agriculture from both points of view.
Malthusian-As populations grow, there is a higher demand for food. This food requires water to grow. The more food needed, the more water needed to feed the population.
Anti-Malthusian-As populations grow, technology grows also. Better technology means better and more efficient ways to conserve water when the demand is so high.
Sand: 30
Clay: 30
Silt: 40
Answer: Clay Loam
Sand: 45
Clay: 10
Silt: 45
Answer: Loam
Directions: Determine the Type of Soils that are Characteristics of Each Specific of These
Terrestrial Biomes and List Why?
Tundra: No true soils, Too cold of a layer and
Taiga (Boreal Forest): Podzolization, result of the acid soil solution produced under needleleaf trees
Temperate Broadleaf Deciduous: Brown forest soil, Hummus content of A and Horizon gives it a brown color
Mediterranean Scrub: Eroded soils because they are maintained by fires and goats.
Temperate Grassland: Dark brown, mild leaching, high organic content, and concentration of calcium carbonate in the B horizon
Scrubland: Light gray, Little hummus to give brown color
Tropical Rainforest: Oxisols, Severely leached, Rapid bacterial decay prevents hummus from building up
Tropical Savannah: laterization is the dominant soil-forming process and low fertility oxisols can be expected
Directions: Define and describe each of the alternative methods to traditional soil tillage
Windbreaks: Farmers plant trees along borders to cut down on wind erosion.
Cover Crops: Planting crops that grow during the most erosive fall and spring months. Winter crops act as a cover to protect from eroding soil.
Grassed Waterways: Farmers plant grassy strips to keep soil from running away with water.
Contour Cultivation: Farmers plant and cultivate their crops to follow contour of a field. It produces furrows that are at an angle to the field. Irregular surface makes it more difficult for water to erode soil.
Strip Cropping: Alternate a field with strips of different crops. A type of contour farming
Forages: Forage crops included in a rotation to cut down on erosion.
Conservation Tillage:Leaving stalks and leaves of harvested crops on their fields to protect soil from wind and rain.
No-Till: Farmers leave all of the last crop's residue while planting a new crop
Ridge Tillage: Forming soil into ridges and planting on ridges. Less likely to erode because the plant and soil material is not broken loose by machinery,
The cost of feeding pigs junk food is cheaper than conventional food
2: Explain how agroecosystems halt ecological succession.
Agroecosystems halt ecological succession since growing crops in early successional states mean they grow rapidly
3: What is the problem with growing “monocultures”?
Monoculture make crops vulnerable to attack by diseases or changes in the environment
4: Why does growing plants in neat rows and fields make it easier for pests?
There is nothing preventing or hiding growing plants from pests therefore they are vulnerable
5: How does plowing fields over and over damage the soils? Explain.
Constant plowing causes soil to erode causing damage to physical structure and loss of organic matter and chemical elements.
6: What are the other 2 ways that agrocultures are harmful to ecosystems?
Agroculture lacks multiple layers of soil and when constantly plowed it is unsustainable
7: How much of the top soil in the U.S. has been lost since European settlement?
One third of the top soil in the U.S has been lost since European settlement
8: What percentage of the world’s land area is used for agriculture?
38% of world's land is used for agriculture
9: What is the difference between undernourishment and malnourishment?
Undernourishment is when a person doesn't consume enough calories or food in order to work. Malnourishment is the lack of certain chemicals like vitamins.
10: Why does providing food aid to countries in need actually work against increased availability of locally grown food?
Farmers don't get any profit from provided food aid which means they only lose but don't profit
11: Most of the world’s food is produced by only ___14 _ species. List them below in order of importance:
wheat, rice, maize, potatoes, sweet potatoes, manioc, sugarcane, sugar beet, common beans, soybeans, barley, sorghum, coconuts, and bananas
12: What is a forage crop?
Food grown for domestic animals.
13: Define the following:
Rangeland: Provides food for grazing/browsing animals without the need for plowing or planting
Pasture: Forage that is plowed, planted, and harvested
14: What impact does the number of livestock around the world have on rangeland and pasturelands?
More than 34 million kilometers are used for permanent pastures. Half of the Earth's land is used as a rangeland.
15: Why are feedlots considered to be a big source of local pollution?
Feedlots are crowded pens of cattle that are fed grain and forage. Due to this manure builds up and pollutes local streams.
16: What is a benefit of farming animals rather than crops?
Land too poor for the growth of crops can be used as rangeland that can feed domestic livestock
17: How does rainwater affect the soil horizon? Explain.
Since rainwater is slightly acidic, therefore when it goes into the soil nutrionally important elements such as iron are leached.
18: What is soil fertility? How it is determined?
Soil fertility is the maximum amount of nutrients a soil can provide for plants
19: Why are soils in humid and tropical areas considered to be poor? What happens to them after deforestation?
The soils in humid and tropical areas are poor amount of nutrients, therefore after deforestation it is difficult for reforestation to occur
20: What is the problem with soils in semi-arid regions?
Soils that accumulate clay minerals may swell and cause cracks in structures
21: Why are coarse-grained soils more susceptible to erosion that soils that contain more clay?
Coarse-grained soils contain small clay particles that retain water and prevent movement of the water which causes the clay to erode
22: Soil Horizons: Define each of the soil horizons
Horizon O: Upper horizon with the most organic material
Horizon A: Upper horizon composed of both mineral and organic materials
Horizon E: Composed of light-colored materials resulting from leaching of clay,calcium,magnesium and iron
Horizon B: Enriched in clay, iron oxides, silica, carbonate or other material leached from overlying horizons
Horizon C: Composed of partially altered parent material
Horizon R: Unweathered parent material
23: What is the difference between organic and inorganic (artificial) fertilizers?
Organic fertilizers are made naturally, they improve both chemical and physical characteristics of soil. Artificial fertilizers are made industrially.
24: Define the following:
Macronutrient: Chemical element required by all living things in large amounts
Micronutrient: chemical element required in small amounts by all life forms or in moderate to small amounts for some forms of life.
Limiting Factor: A factor that is limiting and if that factor isn't improved, nothing else will make a difference.
25: In the U.S, how much of the potential harvest is lost to pests?
1/3 of potential harvest is lost to pests.
26: What is the definition of a weed?
A plant in a place we do not want it to be.
27: What are the differences between inorganic and organic pesticides?
Inorganic pesticides are pesticides in forms of inorganic chemicals. Organic pesticides are made from organic compounds.
28: What are some of the reasons why pesticides are considered to be ineffective?
Pests can create a resistance and then can reproduce pests that can also have a resistance to that pesticide, so that pesticide has no use.
29: Define Integrated Pest Management (IPM) AND explain HOW it works:
IPM is the idea that the goal can be control rather than complete elimination of a pest. It uses a combination of methods, including biological control, certain chemical pesticides and some methods of planting crops.
30: What is the use of biological control and give an example:
Biological control is the use of one species that is a natural enemy to another. An example is BT which is a disease to caterpillars.
31: What was the “green revolution”?
Green revolution were programs that led to the development of crops with higher yields, increased resistance to disease, and resistance to enviromental or climate change
32: What are the 3 practices of genetic engineering?
1. faster more efficient ways of developing hybrids
2. introduction of the terminator gene
3. transfer of genetic properties from widely divergent kinds of life.
33: What are the PROS and CONS of developing hybrid crops?
PRO- lead to hybrids that require less fertilizer, pesticide and water
CON-may produce superhybrids that can grow where they are not wanted and become pests
34: What is the terminator gene and what does it do?
A terminator gene makes seeds from a crop sterile and prevents GMOs from spreading
35: What are the political and social concern with companies using seeds with terminator genes?
Terminator gene will allow U.S and corporations to control the world food supply.
36: How are GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) helpful?
GMOs can give food new nutrient benefits and higher crop yield
37: How can GMO’s be harmful?
GMOs can cause diseases in all living organisms
38: What is aquaculture and how can it be helpful?
Aquaculture is farming of marine organisms which can provide food of high nutritional quality free of pollutants present in marine organisms in the ocean
39: What is mariculture?
Mariculture is the farming of ocean fish although it only produces a small percentage of fish supplied for consumption
40: How can aquaculture and mariculture harmful to the environment?
Fish in ponds and the ocean release waste causing pollution of local environments damaging biodiversity
1: How might dietary changes in developed countries affect water availability?
If diets are changed according to water consumption water use can be significantly reduced
2: How might global warming affect estimates of the amount of water needed to grow crops in the 21st century?
Global warming will cause more droughts increasing demands for water in order to sustain crops being grown
3: Withdrawing water from aquifers faster than the replacement rate is sometimes referred to as “mining water”. Why do you think this term is used?
Since in the same way valuable rocks that are mined for often never replenish or will take long periods of time to come back
4: Many countries in warm areas of the world are unable to raise enough food, such as wheat, to supply their populations. Consequently, they import wheat and other grains. How is this equivalent to importing water?
The wheat had to grow in suitable environments and is equivalent to importing water since countries in need of water to meet demands need t import water from elsewhere
5: Malthusians are those who believe that sooner or later, unless population growth is checked, there will not be enough food for the world’s people. Anti-Malthusians believe that technology will save the human race from a Malthusian fate. Analyze the issue of water supply for agriculture from both points of view.
Malthusian-As populations grow, there is a higher demand for food. This food requires water to grow. The more food needed, the more water needed to feed the population.
Anti-Malthusian-As populations grow, technology grows also. Better technology means better and more efficient ways to conserve water when the demand is so high.
Sand: 30
Clay: 30
Silt: 40
Answer: Clay Loam
Sand: 45
Clay: 10
Silt: 45
Answer: Loam
Directions: Determine the Type of Soils that are Characteristics of Each Specific of These
Terrestrial Biomes and List Why?
Tundra: No true soils, Too cold of a layer and
Taiga (Boreal Forest): Podzolization, result of the acid soil solution produced under needleleaf trees
Temperate Broadleaf Deciduous: Brown forest soil, Hummus content of A and Horizon gives it a brown color
Mediterranean Scrub: Eroded soils because they are maintained by fires and goats.
Temperate Grassland: Dark brown, mild leaching, high organic content, and concentration of calcium carbonate in the B horizon
Scrubland: Light gray, Little hummus to give brown color
Tropical Rainforest: Oxisols, Severely leached, Rapid bacterial decay prevents hummus from building up
Tropical Savannah: laterization is the dominant soil-forming process and low fertility oxisols can be expected
Directions: Define and describe each of the alternative methods to traditional soil tillage
Windbreaks: Farmers plant trees along borders to cut down on wind erosion.
Cover Crops: Planting crops that grow during the most erosive fall and spring months. Winter crops act as a cover to protect from eroding soil.
Grassed Waterways: Farmers plant grassy strips to keep soil from running away with water.
Contour Cultivation: Farmers plant and cultivate their crops to follow contour of a field. It produces furrows that are at an angle to the field. Irregular surface makes it more difficult for water to erode soil.
Strip Cropping: Alternate a field with strips of different crops. A type of contour farming
Forages: Forage crops included in a rotation to cut down on erosion.
Conservation Tillage:Leaving stalks and leaves of harvested crops on their fields to protect soil from wind and rain.
No-Till: Farmers leave all of the last crop's residue while planting a new crop
Ridge Tillage: Forming soil into ridges and planting on ridges. Less likely to erode because the plant and soil material is not broken loose by machinery,