Monoculture
uniform planting of a single crop
yield
the amount of food per unit land
arable land
soil capable of growing crops
green revolution
shift to new agricultural strategies to increace food production, (Mechanization, Fertilizer, Crop varieties)
GMO
Genetically Modified Organisms- organisms that have been genetically engineered by inserting a gene from another species.
Benefit: rapid growth
Drawback: Human risks not understood
Fertilizer
for vegetative growth, 0 human health impacts, can cause eutrophication
pesticide
targets pests/unwanted vegetation species, Human health risks, cannot cause eutrophication
what is IPM and techniques
benefits/drawbacks
Integrated pest management- methods to control pest species while minimizing environmental harm. 1) Biocontrol 2) crop rotation 3) genetically modified crops
Benefits: Less pesticide use
Drawbacks: can be expensive
CAFO and benefits/drawbacks
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations- feed lots designed for high density livestock farming
Benefits: Cheap
Drawback: waste disposal is issue for diseases
Free range livestock qualifications
animals that graze on grass their entire lifespan, free from antibiotics and other growth godmored and chemicals that are used in feed lots
benefits to eating less/no meat
reduction of cos/methane emissions, conserves water, prevents overgrazing
requirements of organic produce
no pesticides/fertilizers/gmos
physical soil tests
1) texture
2) porosity
3) permeability
chemical soil tests
1) Ph
2) Nitrates
3) Phosphates
Nitrate importance for plants
Needed for protein production
phosphate importance for plants
Needed for root flower and fruit growth 2-4 ppm
6 major horizon soil profile layers
O- hummis
A- topsoil
E- elevation
B- subsoil
C- regolith
R- bedrock
leaching
dissolved nutrients move through horizon layers from rain reducing accessibility to plant roots
