chapter 14

Question 1

polyculture

Answer 1

planting a mix of perennial grasses, legumes, sunflowers, grain crops and plants that provides natural insecticides in the same field. (many different plants maturing at various time are planted together.)

• less need for fertilizers and water
• more protection to the plants from wind and water erosion
• little to no need for insecticides and herbicides

Question 2

perennial plants

Answer 2

• plants that have a life cycle of more than two years
• less labor, reduces soil erosion and less pollution
  ex: potatoes, tomatoes onions, basil

Question 3

annuals

Answer 3

• plants that have a life cycle of one year and need to be replanted each year
  ex: corn, rice, wheat, peas, watermelon

Question 4

industrial agriculture (high-input agriculture)

Answer 4

• 80% of world’d food supply
• uses large amounts of fossil fuels, water, commercial fertilizers and pesticides to produce a single crop (monocultures) or livestock

Question 5

plantation agriculture

Answer 5

• form of industrialized agriculture

- used on developing countries growing cash crops (soybeans, coffee, sugarcane, cocoa, vegetables, bananas)

Question 6

traditional subsistence agriculture

Answer 6

• mostly human labor and draft animals

- only produces enough for a farm family’s survival

Question 7

traditional intensive agriculture

Answer 7

-high inputs of human labor, draft labor, water, and fertilizers in order to get a higher yield per area of cultivated land

Question 8

green revolution (1950)

Answer 8

-new management techniques and mechanization as well as more fertilization and irrigation, improved crop varieties and increased food production

Question 9

second green revolution (1967-present day)

Answer 9

-introducing fast growing varieties of rice and wheat in several developing countries.

Question 10

interplanting

Answer 10

• growing several different crops on the same plot

- reduces the chances of losing food supplies due to pests, bad weather and other misfortunes.

Question 11

polyvarietal cultivation (interplanting)

Answer 11

-planting a plot w several varieties of the same crop.

Question 12

intercropping (interplanting)

Answer 12

-growing two or more different crops at the same time on a plot

Question 13

agroforestry (interplanting)

Answer 13

-crops and tress are planted in alternate rows

Question 14

land degradation

Answer 14

-natural or human processes decrease the future ability of land to support crops, livestock or wild species

Question 15

soil erosion

Answer 15

-the movement of soil components (surface litter or topsoil) from one place to another.

main causes: flowing water and wind
harmful effects: loss of soil fertility and sediments pollute water

Question 16

desertification

Answer 16

-the productive potential of arid or semi-arid land falls by 10% or more because of natural climate change and human activities

Question 17

salinization

Answer 17

• when the small amts. of salts in irrigation water become highly concentrated on the soil surface through evaporation.
• stunts crop growth, lowers crop yields and eventually kills plants and ruins the land

Question 18

waterlogging

Answer 18

-when the soil remains under water for a prolonged periods of time, which impairs root growth due to decreased oxygen levels.

Question 19

soil conservation

Answer 19

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