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.
Choose the correct term for each of the following definitions:
Term | Definition |
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oqaY6/o0gfDWhcEIx64vE0ivemgjGYUttXqJjVOlFJ3z7v878hSbxHsRNgiAvKaP1KRe+hmEpg52K/RKWb+3NIZ7cT5R7ktMIo0+nz4i5Hze+391Lcn5xDqFNIGpTcr6Ztw5YurH3IQJCbrvW3NyGgkV3I2q3e5S89q6bRbaabWbxRCpVf7I26g+jGuwwNnpn0JBlQwvaMY= | A crop planted in the off season to help prevent soil erosion and to return nutrients to the soil. |
rR4kcueZmsKKDyFgpNv9E2JaWnt5HUr6ev6bvUjSSRiznqsjviZgiwWZ7U8PDsrJufV1BuzV07Y/X6YDET6TAjVgke/qF0y3SCLciw8bmKeOklS0dREQmm/B89GGUzLT2IrS6REoCWbUFJ2xaNgz8cgkDlIV4vZrCmxrqE8P+xwy/w6sl0OK5vcfWseM+h1Dl4aMDyQHXXs= | When farming on hilly land, rows are planted along the slope, following the lay of the land, rather than oriented downhill. |
1UJY0pq8dTc01bYU7Gdz2xA5BZnve66NGmwGb/MNY8iPmss8OYueqYcody6BAMPALMyBvxoacbK00U0nzEos+ym+fCNsJZkYiczzMd5tELwdaQJy4N3cimj3+2KP202OEe+oRghWROxwfK4jUc0NZc7IHhQ7HIISXaf/hBG9mtLUF4PzRXn+rN9N3s8a8+qZnPza5lsBqT8= | The use of a variety of methods to control a pest population with the goal of minimizing or eliminating the use of chemical toxins. |
02tUQ0NqxShYDuS8pT3MzZZu0NaF2j47dMtq/EWU5Ft06dHdYItZwBTrAJOXovJ3pizziXWxRieMHptPis3ipWxcVsVcTdqd69AxTG3RF6tCbHFiwkJPwPKfFSiL5DlPr9OXsRLySMtpZ6TVKeOR/rLtjIE2WAnN0FdjR/sso4hGXznF57GS3e0PXE2M23IoMPqNCcUtQ9E= | Planting crops in soil that is minimally disturbed and still retains some plant residue from the previous planting. |
ajj0jqhLeSYcKUNmBj0GHFRnRtGhYvNKPFVx04LrUeiDitefgRQS7dFU+nBd9dCTSuV8vubM8aC4yn+ztIDl4shJ9yviwwX7UrgTKJ1wxrn5FPI1t6JtY4cl2Q+/vbH+iJa5AJPhw+/FbIULrfIfKATqDip3Tumw1IQ14+4inUuEf9swJzz19vOkBYfQ28S0EAQtKYH6LuQ= | On steep slopes, land is leveled into steps; reduces soil erosion and runoff down the hillside. |
a5XgKzP/kGT/NkXPaTI7uxNqOlT1iK47NJrfyFhDilTTWY29rqvoXDeZv+noal7RsvSjX2nJqOTcWc+am44YYbPZ47onOaF4JSXu6Z8E6ObMeOBDdnIAhFWHj65dBl199C3GDJYarrbda+UkfFdJBx0uvKmPISwUHBdxIsREAVBwZY9uBgONS9Ez8Kjk2zV1VIfaGqX6O/E= | Alternating different crops in adjacent strips, several rows wide; helps keep pest populations low. |
yDC9yyjePvEBqssMJ2eFqLbxkEBK+RH6MXC1xtpiDNCKVmt0FApxm3+11x78jlqOgwwfvyEJzmKM/mTokIW8ZHKokc5fhtNilSlCoMd6JflZhLISFffFnzD8vMcfzx9wkeDDVEd2l3mFsaNlRIeoDAZTQM84ixgxQrOBVjaUygRj0Kk8GYG4pljuJcNghbyO32KL//eUNms= | Planting different crops on a given plot of land every few years to maintain soil fertility and reduce pest outbreaks. |
QbZqPp65lBgTG+xxGdRYKUNXXDM2XCxJPtMG3yzNsp426U5Fhk5euwj/j4BOsh2AdeYGtvUADuS+WzU6zqvdi0U1p4etFaM7HK2mzTnGari6+O3hf0j259RngUeSMMmQtUfAYzBi01tvDKIcAZ5Y1tu2J8pVhLeWhYVdNLlb5UkuNVI02CG6EhObpyS/m0jZ/NcdRVaVbHc= | Scientific field that considers the area’s ecology and indigenous knowledge, favoring methods that protect the environment and meet the needs of local people. |
rdROUe8RUpRzhJ9sMzhuG8YkDHQsqkPGqawR8W5ubXCVzL3uwoH8yupXeWkWumLFpgZYdoTSpQPYfIutWuvfhrDSpfo7ZNPKZlTmNGMeLEofnBZA9+0yzbuP79b/i8mKnR7v5nl9wtb7Zdo1ooeoDY0LJCwzdEFKJGJ7gBhV6BcD6STEZLXajR9CMvfSSCKoAKRZzBxhXbg= | Farming method in which a mix of different species are grown together in one area. |
Define the following parts of developing an IPM plan in your own words:
yEQSokvocl6ETgJq7ejOH2rTvFFBRbIXx8cTxDHcJSM= Jez1+7E4uRfDZkzGk+GS5ogCPBNaWljKc0IiqciLa7Gnv7LNkaCKaw== eBnpMGBgZiox1IRKZMZNa9n9J8fOeTECdIa4ujf9MmgrrjE6Match the drawbacks and advantages to their IPM method:
IPM method | Advantages & Drawbacks |
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Cultural |
Advantage:
Drawback:
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Mechanical |
Advantage:
Drawback:
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Biological |
Advantage:
Drawback:
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Chemical |
Advantage:
Drawback:
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For each of the following descriptors, select ALL of the farming methods that apply.
Reduces erosion.
Contour farming wg8JNehuALfILP6S
Terrace farming wg8JNehuALfILP6S
Reduced tillage wg8JNehuALfILP6S
Cover crops wg8JNehuALfILP6S
Crop rotation 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Strip farming 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Better for slopes.
Contour farming wg8JNehuALfILP6S
Terrace farming wg8JNehuALfILP6S
Reduced tillage 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Cover crops 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Crop rotation 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Strip farming 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Reduces effects of crop pests.
Contour farming 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Terrace farming 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Reduced tillage 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Cover crops 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Crop rotation wg8JNehuALfILP6S
Strip farming wg8JNehuALfILP6S
Maintains or improves soil fertility.
Contour farming 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Terrace farming 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Reduced tillage 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Cover crops wg8JNehuALfILP6S
Crop rotation wg8JNehuALfILP6S
Strip farming 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Reduces water needs.
Contour farming 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Terrace farming 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Reduced tillage wg8JNehuALfILP6S
Cover crops 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Crop rotation 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Strip farming 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Reduces fuel needs.
Contour farming 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Terrace farming 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Reduced tillage wg8JNehuALfILP6S
Cover crops 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Crop rotation 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Strip farming 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Always involve planting a variety of crops.
Contour farming 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Terrace farming 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Reduced tillage 3hMJDRP6OS+3EJIb
Cover crops wg8JNehuALfILP6S
Crop rotation wg8JNehuALfILP6S
Strip farming wg8JNehuALfILP6S