Chapter 22. Chapter 22: Agriculture: Raising Crops
What kind of sustainable methods can help reduce the environmental impact of industrial farming?
Guiding Question 22.3
What kind of sustainable methods can help reduce the environmental impact of industrial farming?
Why You Should Care
There are several points to consider when attempting to make modern farming more sustainable. First, there are the crops themselves: Can they be grown in a way that does not deplete soil resources and does not require excessive fertilizing? Will we have to convert more natural areas to farmland and pastures? Will we have to use poisons that could harm ecosystems, such as pesticides, herbicides, and antibiotics? Next, there are other natural resources to consider besides land: water, soil, and fossil fuels especially. To farm sustainably, we must start developing methods to reduce the need and use of these resources. The most sustainable farming practices emulate natural ecological processes. Methods like planting nitrogen-fixing cover crops, integrated pest management, and polyculture planting reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Several different methods are now used to prevent soil loss and degradation from over tilling, including: contour farming and no- or low-tillage cultivation. The duck/rice farm method is a great example of modeling an ecological community in order to benefit from all of the services provided by such a community.
Test Your Vocabulary
Choose the correct term for each of the following definitions:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| A crop planted in the off season to help prevent soil erosion and to return nutrients to the soil. | |
| When farming on hilly land, rows are planted along the slope, following the lay of the land, rather than oriented downhill. | |
| The use of a variety of methods to control a pest population with the goal of minimizing or eliminating the use of chemical toxins. | |
| Planting crops in soil that is minimally disturbed and still retains some plant residue from the previous planting. | |
| On steep slopes, land is leveled into steps; reduces soil erosion and runoff down the hillside. | |
| Alternating different crops in adjacent strips, several rows wide; helps keep pest populations low. | |
| Planting different crops on a given plot of land every few years to maintain soil fertility and reduce pest outbreaks. | |
| Scientific field that considers the area’s ecology and indigenous knowledge, favoring methods that protect the environment and meet the needs of local people. | |
| Farming method in which a mix of different species are grown together in one area. |
1.
Takao Furuno's farming method relies on _____________, whereas most modern farming systems rely on ______________.
| A. |
| B. |
| C. |
| D. |
5.
Click on the parts of Furuno's integrated rice farming system that can be sold.
{"title":"Duck","description":"Ducks are one of the parts of the system that can be sold. Click all parts of the system that can be sold to complete the question.","type":"correct","color":"#99CCFF","code":"[{\"shape\":\"poly\",\"coords\":\"203,77,208,74,222,67,228,60,220,65,226,58,230,56,237,57,242,62,246,68,246,76,244,81,247,86,246,88,253,84,259,80,264,78,270,76,283,74,297,75,311,76,328,78,340,77,329,95,324,100,305,103,294,105,259,108,247,106,234,103,223,96,218,89,218,86,221,80,224,74,218,69,224,75,208,80,198,76,221,64,226,64\"}]"} {"title":"Fish","description":"Fish are one of the parts of the system that can be sold. Click all parts of the system that can be sold to complete the question.","type":"correct","color":"#993300","code":"[{\"shape\":\"poly\",\"coords\":\"180,188,178,176,180,188,182,192,192,193,205,189,212,186,218,187,224,187,228,185,230,183,226,180,237,177,243,174,246,173,254,175,258,176,263,173,259,172,254,170,264,167,278,160,286,161,294,161,298,159,298,157,291,157,291,154,311,151,324,138,320,127,280,145,262,147,264,142,260,139,255,135,242,139,240,146,234,152,196,171,178,186\"}]"} {"title":"Rice","description":"Rice is one of the parts of the system that can be sold. Click all parts of the system that can be sold to complete the question.","type":"correct","color":"#333300","code":"[{\"shape\":\"rect\",\"coords\":\"99,11,184,203\"}]"} {"title":"Azolla","description":"Azolla does not have a market value.","type":"incorrect","color":"#000080","code":"[{\"shape\":\"poly\",\"coords\":\"266,112,268,138,185,147,189,112,189,112\"}]"}
10.
Thought Question: How is Furuno's system a more sustainable way to raise rice than current methods?
12.
The method considered a "last resort" in IPM is:
| A. |
| B. |
| C. |
| D. |
For each of the following descriptors, select ALL of the farming methods that apply.
18.
Reduces erosion.
Contour farming
Terrace farming
Reduced tillage
Cover crops
Crop rotation
Strip farming
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