August 2008 Using the Earth’s Resources AGRISCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office July, 2002

August 2008 OBJECTIVES Define environment and natural resources. Explain ecosystems. Explain and give examples of renewable natural resources. Explain and give examples of non- renewable natural resources.

August 2008 OBJECTIVES CONT. Explain pollution and identify sources of pollution. Define recycling and list examples. Identify sources of pollution in agriculture and name rules to follow in preventing agriculture pollution.

August 2008 FACTS TO THINK ABOUT One in three people in the world don’t have enough food to eat. 12 million people die of starvation each year. By the year 2030, the world’s population will double at 10 billion people.

August 2008 DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENT Environment is all of the factors that affect the life of a living thing. It is everything external to a plant or animal.

August 2008 NATURAL RESOURCES Natural resources are the naturally occurring things that support life, provide fuel or are used in other ways by humans. Soil, water, air, minerals, plants, and animals are examples.

August 2008 BIOSPHERE Biosphere is the area of the earth that supports life. Extends only a few feet above the earth and into the oceans, depending on the kind of life.

August 2008 HABITAT Habitat is a place a plant or animal lives under natural conditions. Example: zoo’s may have to create a habitat for a specific animal.

August 2008 ECOSYSTEM Ecosystem is all of the parts of a particular environment. Some parts are living (biotic factors). Some parts are nonliving (abiotic factors).

August 2008 EXAMPLES OF BIOTIC FACTORS Plants Animals Other living things Some have a symbiosis relationship with each other Some do not relate well with each other (wolves and sheep)

August 2008 EXAMPLES OF ABIOTIC FACTORS Water Temperature Sunlight Soil characteristics Lay of the land They determine which plants and animals can live in an ecosystem

August 2008 IDEAL ECOSYSTEM WITHIN A STREAM PASSING THROUGH A MEADOW Water free of pollution Fish and other life in the water Fertile soil surrounding the stream Plants growing on the surrounding land Insects in the plants Birds in the air above

August 2008 EXAMPLE OF A NICHE Niche is a way a plant and animal has its own special way of living A beaver is an example A venus fly trap is a plant example

August 2008 FOOD CHAIN Food chain is the sequence in which all living things in an ecosystem get their food Also may be referred to as the cycle of nature

August 2008 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE Is used to describe all of the things done in agriscience to maintain the ability to produce food, fiber, and shelter.

August 2008 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE INVOLVES: Protecting the soil, air, and water Maintaining wildlife habitat Using pesticides and fertilizers wisely Disposing of wastes properly

August 2008 NATURAL RESOURCES Renewable Soil Water Wildlife/Fish Forest Air Non-renewable Coal Petroleum Natural Gas Minerals

August 2008 WAYS TO RENEW SOIL Use soil conservation measures to keep the soil in place Soil test and maintain soil fertility

August 2008 WAYS TO RENEW/CONSERVE WATER Don’t waste water Farm ponds Terraces Crop residue Treat waste water and re-use

August 2008 WAYS OF RENEWING WILDLIFE/FISH Restocking of fish Extend or limit time of hunting season Relocation of certain species of animals

August 2008 WAYS TO RENEW FOREST Replace trees by planting: clear cut area Harvest trees by a diameter limit (18”DBH) Commercial forest owned by Georgia- Pacific and Weyerhauser manage large tracts of land for timber

August 2008 INCREASING AIR QUALITY Reduce emissions (wastes into the air) coming from factories, cars, and equipment Do not try to burn batteries (contains cadmium-heavy metal) Controlling smoke

August 2008 ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION All the ways that people contaminate their environment Humans cause most pollution Sources include: toxic products, soil loss, waste products, discharged water, junk, and litter

August 2008 TOXICOLOGY Study of the effects of poisons on living things Effects of toxins are acute (short-term exposure) and chronic (long-term exposure)

August 2008 MAJOR SOURCES OF TOXINS Exhaust from engines Burning materials Agricultural chemicals

August 2008 SOIL LOSS Wind erosion Water erosion Soil particles get into the air, streams, lakes and cause pollution

August 2008 WASTES PRODUCTS Garbage from homes/restaurants Left-over materials at factories Crop remains and livestock wastes on farms 1300 lbs, of waste/person/year

August 2008 DISCHARGED WATER Effluents –discharged water after it has been used in a factory or process of some type Substances –waste blood from meat processing plant Temperature –power plant releasing water into streams

August 2008 EFFLUENTS CAUSING POLLUTION Amount -releasing too much water into streams: other methods of disposal may be needed Human wastes – some small towns or older residents may not have sewage treatment plants or septic systems

August 2008 METHODS OF WASTE DISPOSAL Landfills: 80% of the waste in the U.S. is disposed in landfills Incineration: 9% of the waste are incinerated Recycling: common items include paper, aluminum, tin cans, and glass

August 2008 SOURCES OF AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION Introducing pests: brought into U.S. on seed, plants, fruit, or other products Exotic plants or animal: release of plants or animals may damage existing plants/animals Chemicals: improper use of agricultural chemicals

August 2008 SOURCES OF AG POLLUTION Waste water: excess water from irrigation, fish ponds, food processing plants Processing wastes: chicken feathers, internal parts of animals, vegetables, sawdust, and tree bark New life forms: non-natural forms of plants and animals

August 2008 STEPS TO PREVENT POLLUTION Know regulations Follow rules Use proper storage Waste control Use chemicals properly Dispose of containers properly Use safety