Sustainable Agriculture (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Flashcards
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Define soil conservation.
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Cards in this collection (25)
Define soil conservation.
Soil conservation is the set of practices aimed at preventing soil erosion and preserving soil fertility.
Define contour plowing.
Contour plowing is plowing parallel to the contours of a slope rather than vertically up and down it.
How does contour plowing reduce soil erosion?
Contour plowing reduces the length and speed of water flow downhill, which prevents gully formation and increases water infiltration.
Define windbreak.
A windbreak is a row of trees or shrubs planted to reduce wind speed across fields.
As well as reducing soil erosion, how do windbreaks protect crops?
Windbreaks protect crops from wind damage and from damage caused by wind-blown soil.
How do perennial crops help prevent soil erosion?
Perennial crops live and produce yields for multiple years without replanting, and their deep roots anchor the soil.
Define cover crop.
A cover crop is a plant, such as clover, rye, or vetch, grown between cash-crop harvests to keep the soil covered when no commercial crop is in the ground.
When plowed under at the end of the season, legume cover crops can add organic matter and to the soil.
When plowed under at the end of the season, legume cover crops can add organic matter and nitrogen to the soil.
Define terracing.
Terracing is creating level areas on steep slopes by building steps or terraces, which significantly reduces water runoff and erosion.
True or False?
Strip cropping leaves bare soil between rows of a single crop.
False.
Strip cropping alternates rows of different crops planted side by side, which keeps the soil covered throughout the growing season.
Define no-till agriculture.
No-till agriculture is farming without disturbing the soil through plowing or tilling, which protects soil structure and retains organic matter and moisture.
What does improving soil fertility involve?
Improving soil fertility involves replenishing nutrients, maintaining soil structure, and promoting beneficial organisms.
Define crop rotation.
Crop rotation is alternating different crops in the same area over different seasons or years, which prevents nutrient depletion.
How does crop rotation reduce the need for chemical treatments?
Crop rotation disrupts pest and disease cycles, reducing the need for chemical treatments.
In crop rotation, farmers often alternate nitrogen-fixing with nutrient-intensive crops such as corn.
In crop rotation, farmers often alternate nitrogen-fixing legumes with nutrient-intensive crops such as corn.
Define green manure.
Green manure is plants grown specifically to be incorporated into the soil as organic matter, by cutting, mowing, or plowing them under before they fully mature.
How do decomposing green manure plants improve the soil?
Decomposing green manure improves soil structure, releases nutrients, adds organic nitrogen and carbon, boosts microbial activity, and increases moisture retention.
True or False?
Liming is used to lower the pH of alkaline soils.
False.
Liming adds crushed limestone to acidic (low pH) soils to increase the pH and improve fertility.
Which nutrients become more available when liming neutralizes soil acidity?
Liming improves the availability of nutrients, particularly calcium and magnesium.
Define rotational grazing.
Rotational grazing is the practice of regularly moving livestock between different pastures.
How does rotational grazing prevent overgrazing?
Rotational grazing limits grazing pressure in any single area, giving plants time to regrow and recover.
Well-managed pastures have strong systems that reduce water runoff and improve infiltration.
Well-managed pastures have strong root systems that reduce water runoff and improve infiltration.
How does rotational grazing increase livestock productivity?
Livestock get consistent access to fresh, nutritious forage, and moving them reduces the spread of parasites and diseases from contaminated areas.
True or False?
Rotational grazing is always cheaper to set up than continuous grazing.
False.
Rotational grazing may have higher fencing and infrastructure costs than continuous grazing systems.
Why must rotational grazing be carefully planned and monitored?
Planning sets grazing schedules and pasture recovery times, and monitoring prevents overuse of specific areas so forage can regrow.
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