Chapter 7 - Land and Water Use

Carbamate

Type of pesticide that affects the nervous system of pets and has a higher risk of being dissolved in surface water.

Inject seeds

________ into slits or holes in the soil by a machine to minimize soil disturbance.

high input

A system characterized by ________ agriculture that is focused on maximizing productivity and profitability.

Healthy diet

________ requires a balanced intake of protein, carbohydrates, and fat.

Chlorinated hydrocarbons

________ are synthetic organic compounds that belong to a group of chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants (POPS)

Pesticide runoff

________ and it affects aquatic environments.

Fertilizer

________ that originates from an organic source.

Chemical fertilizers

________ contain salts that plant roots absorb quickly, but don't provide a food source for microorganisms or earthworms.

Farmers markets

________ feature foods sold by farmers directly to consumers.

Alley Cropping (Agroforestry)

Method of planting crops in strips with rows of trees or shrubs on either side.

Conservation Tillage

Leaves at least 30% of crop residue on the soil surface during the critical soil erosion period.

Contour Farming

Farming with row patterns that run nearly level around the hill.

Crop Rotation

Planting a field with different crops throughout the year to reduce soil nutrient depletion.

High-Input Agriculture

Includes the use of mechanized equipment, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides.

Industrial Agriculture or Corporate Farming

A system characterized by high-input agriculture that is focused on maximizing productivity and profitability.

Intercropping

To grow more than 1 crop in the same field.

Interplanting

Growing two different crops in the same area at the same time.

Low-Input

Depends on hand tools and natural fertilizers

Monoculture

The cultivation of a single crop

No Till

Inject seeds into slits or holes in the soil by a machine to minimize soil disturbance.

Organic Farming

A form of agriculture that relies on crop rotation, green manure, compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation to maintain soil productivity and control pests.

Polyculture

Uses different crops in the same space, in imitation of diversity of natural ecosystems.

Subsistence

Agriculture carried out for survival. Usually organic.

Terracing

Graduated steps used to farm on hilly or mountainous terrain.

Tillage

Conventional method in which the surface is plowed which breaks up and exposes the soil.

Fertilizer

Provides plants with nutrients needed to grow healthy and strong.

Inorganic Fertilizer

Type of fertilizer mined from mineral deposits and manufactured from synthetic compounds.

Organic Fertilizer

Fertilizer that originates from an organic source.

Biological Pesticide

Living organisms to deal with pests. Examples include bacteria, ladybugs, milky spore disease, parasitic wasps, and certain viruses.

Fumigants

Used to sterilize soil and prevent pest infestation of stored grain.

Inorganic Pesticides

Broad-based pesticides that include arsenic, copper, lead and mercury.

Organic or Natural Pesticides

Natural poisons derived from plants.

Organophosphates

Extremely toxic but remain in the environment for only a brief time.