Agriculture & Environment Ag Sci I

Environment All the EXTERNAL conditions that affect an organism or community and INFLUENCE its development or existence

Examples of Humans Changing the Environment TREES removed to make room for FARMLAND WILDLIFE lost HABITAT because of farmland Populations became EXTINCT due to over HUNTING

Hydrological Cycle Process of WATER being constantly CYCLED through the environment through a combination of EVAPORATION and PRECIPITATION

Hydrological Cycle

Hydrological Cycle Surface Water Groundwater Water that is stored on the SURFACE of the earth Examples: LAKES, STREAMS Groundwater Water stored BENEATH the earth’s surface in UNDERGROUND lakes called AQUIFERS

Pollution The presence of SUBSTANCES in the water, air or soil that impair USEFULLNESS, or render it OFFENSIVE to humans.

Two Types of Pollution Point Pollution Non-Point Pollution Pollution from a SPECIFIC place Examples: FACTORY DUMPING Non-Point Pollution Pollution comes from MANY places and is hard to IDENTIFY the polluters Examples: AGRICULTURE

Agriculture and Non-Point Pollution Agriculture is the LARGEST origin of NON-POINT pollution in the United States Agricultural Pollutants EROSION PESTICIDES ANIMAL WASTE FERTILIZERS

Problems Coming from Chemicals Mutations

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Erosion LARGEST environmental problem stemming from agriculture Comes from OVERPLOWING fields Causes SEDIMENT to get into water Cause about $6 billion in damage each year

Erosion Leads to DEOXYGENATION (removal of oxygen) in the water, causing AQUATIC animals to die

Erosion Erosion monitored by the SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE (SCS) PREVENTION Methods MINIMUM Plow NO Till TERRACING

Erosion into streams

Pesticides 570 million pounds annually used Pesticides can enter the GROUND or WATER supply ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) regulates runoff and pesticide concentration

Pesticides Main factors in pesticide pollution Water SOLUBILITY How easily a pesticide dissolves in WATER Higher means that the pesticide goes through soil more easily Half-Life Amount of time it take for HALF of the chemical to BREAK DOWN

Pesticides Prevention of contamination INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM) Use INSECTS to help with other INSECTS Use low RESIDUAL pesticides SURFACTANTS Help the pesticide stick to the plant

Fertilizers and Animal Waste Nitrates CHEMICALS found in fertilizers and manure HELPFUL in small amounts, HARMFUL in large quantities Bacteria Found in animal waste, can transport DISEASE to other animals and to HUMANS

Fertilizers and Animal Waste Prevention of Contamination Control RAINWATER RUNOFF LAGOON holding tank for manure

Other Environmental Issues from Agriculture Wetlands Depletion of Water Resources

Wetlands Were DRAINED to use water for IRRIGATION Now function as FILTERS for water HABITAT for plants and animals FLOOD control Protected by the EPA

Depletion of Water Resources AGRICULTURE uses over 80% of the total water use in the nation AQUIFERS are tapped to help irrigate crops Some methods of irrigation allow for a lot of water to EVAPORATE

Depletion of Water Resources Least to Most Efficient Irrigation Systems FLOOD irrigation HAND LINE sprinklers WHEEL LINE sprinklers CENTER PIVOT sprinklers LOW ENERGY sprinklers ROOT LINE DRIP systems

Flood Irrigation Allows water to run OUT and OVER fields                                     

Hand Line Sprinklers Must be moved by HAND from one section of a FIELD to the next

Center Pivot Overhead Sprinklers SPRAY water in a fine MIST over the tops of the crops