Chapter 18. Chapter 18: Agriculture

How can we sustainably produce crops or raise animals for food?

Interactive Study Guide

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Guiding Question 18.3

How can we sustainably produce crops or raise animals for food?

Why You Should Care

There are several points to consider if we are to be able to feed future generations. 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. Farming requires lots of water, and fresh water is becoming an increasingly precious resource. So much water is diverted from the Colorado River for farming and domestic use in the Southwest, for example, that in some years, it does not actually reach its mouth and flow into the Gulf of California. Modern farming can compromise precious soil resources as well because tilling and overfarming can cause soil to be washed or blown away or to have too many nutrients removed with the crops. Intensive grazing, as we already know, can damage soil. Fossil fuels are required by modern agriculture for farm equipment, producing some fertilizers and pesticides, and shipping animals and produce, sometimes over very long distances.

To farm sustainably, we must start developing methods to reduce the need and use of these resources. Many small-scale efforts to farm more sustainably—such as organic farming, low- and no-till farming, and mixed cropping—are all garnering news and notice, but still only represent a small portion of the industry. For agriculture to be truly sustainable, there must be large-scale "buy-in" by consumers.

Question 18.1

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Question 18.2

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Question 18.3

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Question 18.4

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Question 18.5

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Infographic 18.3: Integrated Farming: The Duck/Rice Farm

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Correct. Rice, ducks, and fish can all be sold.

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Question 18.6

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{"title":"Duck","description":"","type":"incorrect","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":"","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":"","type":"incorrect","color":"#333300","code":"[{\"shape\":\"rect\",\"coords\":\"99,11,184,203\"}]"} {"title":"Azolla","description":"","type":"correct","color":"#000080","code":"[{\"shape\":\"poly\",\"coords\":\"266,112,268,138,185,147,189,112,189,112\"}]"}

Correct. Most rice varieties are grown in water to discourage weeds, but only because rice can tolerate flooding well, not because it needs to be flooded.

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Question 18.7

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{"title":"Duck","description":"","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":"","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":"","type":"incorrect","color":"#333300","code":"[{\"shape\":\"rect\",\"coords\":\"99,11,184,203\"}]"} {"title":"Azolla","description":"","type":"correct","color":"#000080","code":"[{\"shape\":\"poly\",\"coords\":\"266,112,268,138,185,147,189,112,189,112\"}]"}

Correct. Although azolla directly adds nitrogen from the atmosphere, waste from the ducks and fish also provide nutrients for the rice.

Incorrect.

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Question 18.8

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{"title":"Duck","description":"","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":"","type":"incorrect","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":"","type":"incorrect","color":"#333300","code":"[{\"shape\":\"rect\",\"coords\":\"99,11,184,203\"}]"} {"title":"Azolla","description":"","type":"correct","color":"#000080","code":"[{\"shape\":\"poly\",\"coords\":\"266,112,268,138,185,147,189,112,189,112\"}]"}

Correct. In typical operations, azolla can outcompete rice for resources and ducks can eat the raw rice before it is harvested

Incorrect.

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Question 18.9

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Modern fish farming produces a lot of waste and requires the use of antibiotics to keep the fish healthy. This system provides a way to handle the waste and grow the fish in a more sustainable way. The same goes for the ducks: Typical methods for raising ducks are similar to chicken farms, with ducks confined indoors in cramped buildings. These operations have to use fairly complex methods to remove waste, keep the birds watered, and keep the air from getting too toxic with ammonia fumes. Raising the ducks outside in a closed system like Furuno's gives the ducks a better quality of life as well as handles the waste and water issues that come with typical commercial duck farms.

For each of the following descriptors, select ALL of the farming methods that apply:

Question 18.10

Reduces erosion

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Terrace farming aFyLQOV9P9qF6KzY

Reduced tillage aFyLQOV9P9qF6KzY

Cover crops aFyLQOV9P9qF6KzY

Crop rotation 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Strip farming 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

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Question 18.11

Better for slopes

Contour farming 9PufMCe/gaVcshPB

Terrace farming aFyLQOV9P9qF6KzY

Reduced tillage 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Cover crops 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Crop rotation 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Strip farming 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

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Question 18.12

Reduces effects of crop pests

Contour farming 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Terrace farming 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Reduced tillage 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Cover crops 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Crop rotation aFyLQOV9P9qF6KzY

Strip farming aFyLQOV9P9qF6KzY

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Question 18.13

Maintains or improves soil fertility

Contour farming s87TBEH0BM9yDZCI

Terrace farming 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Reduced tillage 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Cover crops aFyLQOV9P9qF6KzY

Crop rotation aFyLQOV9P9qF6KzY

Strip farming 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

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Question 18.14

Reduces water needs

Contour farming 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Terrace farming 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Reduced tillage aFyLQOV9P9qF6KzY

Cover crops 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Crop rotation 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Strip farming 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

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Question 18.15

Reduces fuel needs

Contour farming 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Terrace farming 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Reduced tillage 9PufMCe/gaVcshPB

Cover crops 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Crop rotation 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Strip farming 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

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Question 18.16

Always involve planting a variety of crops

Contour farming 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Terrace farming 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Reduced tillage 6Tla4sTC7UhhcmHA

Cover crops aFyLQOV9P9qF6KzY

Crop rotation aFyLQOV9P9qF6KzY

Strip farming aFyLQOV9P9qF6KzY

999

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