Chapter 12 Soil and Agriculture Mr. Manskopf Class Web Site Http://www.manskopf.com

Essential Questions Covered What are the components of the soil? How is soil formed? What are some of the effects of soil erosion on the land? Describe the impact of human activities on the land. How do recycling and composting programs affect the soil? What impact do pesticides have on the soil? What affect do fertilizers have on the nitrogen cycle?

Who Cares About DIRT?

How is my food choice impacting the environment?

How come not everyone has enough food?

About 38% of Earth’s land surface is used for agriculture.

Section 1 Soil Explain how soil is formed. Describe the different layers (horizons) of soil. List four characteristics used to classify soil.

What is soil made of? Soil is made up of minerals, organic matter, air, and water. Soil composition is influenced by climate, organisms, landforms, parent material, and time

Soil Composition Soil is a thin layer over most land that is a complex mix of rock, nutrients, decaying matter, water, air and billions of organisms…many microscopic decomposers

Why is soil important? Renewable resource…SLOW Depends upon climate (1cm in 15yrs.) Basis of life Filters water Water storage Habitat

Simplified Soil Food Web

Soil Formation Weathering: Physical and chemical breaking of rocks and minerals into smaller pieces Erosion and deposition: Pick-up, transport, and drop-off of material from one place to another Decomposition: Breakdown of waste, organisms, and organic material into simple molecules

Weathering of PARENT MATERIAL (ROCK)

Soil Horizons Soil horizons are distinct layers of soil. A cross-section of soil horizons is a soil profile. “A” Most Critical

Did You Know? In general, organic matter is concentrated in the O and A horizons, making them the most critical for agriculture.

Soil Characteristics Soil groups are further classified according to properties such as color, structure, pH, and texture. Soil texture is based on particle size.

Topsoil Color a Great Quick Indicator Dark, loamy, neutral pH are some of best soils for farming Dark color often means lots of decayed material (nutrients)

Section 1 Review Explain how soil is formed. Describe the different layers (horizons) of soil. List four characteristics used to classify soil.

Section 1 Quiz 1) After a catastrophe, soil formation is the first step in A. primary succession. B. secondary succession. C. a climax community.

2) Most of the nutrients in soil come from A. chemical weathering. B 2) Most of the nutrients in soil come from A. chemical weathering. B. mechanical weathering. C. erosion. D. decomposition.

3) A farmer interested in raising healthy crops should look for a A 3) A farmer interested in raising healthy crops should look for a A. heavy clay soil with a high pH and a dark color. B. loamy soil with a low pH and a light color. C. loamy, clumpy soil with a neutral pH and a dark color. D. sandy soil with a high pH, no clumps, and a light color.

4) An example of a soil parent material is A. humus. B. volcanic rock 4) An example of a soil parent material is A. humus. B. volcanic rock. C. leaf litter. D. topsoil.

5) As a farmer, you would be most concerned with the quality of the soil in the A. O horizon. B. A horizon. C. E horizon. D. R horizon.

6) A rancher interested in the quality of the soil in her pasture might use which aspect of soil as a quick indicator of the pasture’s overall fertility? A. color B. smell C. structure D. pH E. Taste

7) Short Answer: If you were to travel to the desert in Arizona, you might find Horizon Layer O and A missing. Why?

8) Short Answer: What determines how quickly Horizon O and A form?

Some estimates predict that 50 million people could be displaced in the next 10 years due to desertification, a form of soil degradation.

Section 2 Soil Degradation and Conservation What causes soil erosion? How serious of a problem is it? What are ways that farmers, ranchers and forestry lead to soil erosion?

Causes of Soil Erosion Wind Water #1 People

Soil Erosion Often occurs faster than soil is formed, depleting fertile topsoil Crops, trees, and other plant communities protect soil from erosion.

Did You Know? More than 19 billion hectares (47 billion acres) of the world’s croplands suffer from erosion and other forms of soil degradation resulting from human activities.

Impacts of Soil Erosion Loss of soil fertility Sediment runoff causes problems in surface water (pollution, clog ditches, boat channels, reservoirs) #1 source of U.S. water pollution Renewable only on LONG timeframes (200-1,000yrs. for 1 inch)

What time of year do you think most farm fields in U. S What time of year do you think most farm fields in U.S. are vulnerable to erosion?

On Ag. land in U.S. today, soil is eroding 16 times faster than it is created

Areas of serious concern Stable or nonvegetative areas Areas of some concern Stable or nonvegetative areas

Farming Practices That Reduce Erosion Intercropping: Different crops mixed together Crop rotation: Crops are alternated. Shelterbelts: Tall plants block wind. Conservation tillage: Soil turnover is reduced. Terracing: Steep slopes turned into “steps”

Tillage vs. Conservation Tillage

Contour and Strip Cropping

Ranching Practices Ranching is the raising and grazing of livestock. Overgrazing causes and worsens many soil problems. Range managers encourage grazing limits and enforce them on publicly owned land.

Forestry Practices Forestry practices, such as clear-cutting, can increase erosion. Today, practices that reduce soil erosion, such as selective logging, are increasingly common.

Soil Pollution Too much, or carelessly timed irrigation can waterlog crops and lead to salinization—a buildup of salts in upper soil horizons. Toxic pesticides can remain in soil for a long time, eventually filtering to groundwater. Evaporation Transpiration Waterlogging Less permeable clay layer

Desertification

Soil Salinization

Soil Pollution

Section 2 Review What causes soil erosion? How serious of a problem is it? What are ways that farmers, ranchers and forestry lead to soil erosion?

Humans have been practicing agriculture for about 10,000 years.

What is that?

Aldo Leopold There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery store, and the other that heat from the furnace.

Section 3 Agriculture Describe the history of farming. Analyze the costs and benefits of the “Green Revolution” What are some ways farmers control weeds and pests? Why are pollinators important to farmers?

What are some of the ecological and economic services that croplands provide? (what good are farms?)

The Beginnings of Agriculture People were hunter-gatherers through most of human history, until agriculture developed about 10,000 years ago.

Why 10,000 years ago?

Agriculture History In early agriculture, people began planting seeds from plants they liked most Agriculture and livestock provided a stable food supply, which allowed the development of modern civilization.

Types of Agriculture Traditional Agriculture Industrial Agriculture

The Green Revolution Introduced new technology, crop varieties, and farming practices to the developing world in the mid- to late 1900s Benefits: Increased crop yields and saved millions of people from starvation in India and Pakistan Prevented some deforestation and habitat loss by increasing yields on cultivated land

Green Revolution Costs: Led to a 7000% increase in energy used by agriculture Worsened erosion, salinization, desertification, eutrophication, and pollution

Pests and Weed Control (Farmers Enemies) Chemical pesticides: Effective and cheap, but can lead to resistance

Pests and Weed Control Biological pest control: Permanent solution, but can harm nontarget organisms Integrated pest management: Increasingly popular solution, combines chemical and biological pest-control methods Cactus moth larvae are used to control prickly pear cactus, but also threaten many rare, native cacti around the world.

Pollinators Agriculture relies on pollinators, such as insects. Native and domesticated pollinator populations have declined due to pesticide use, parasites, and other as-of-yet unknown causes

Section 3 Review Describe the history of farming. Analyze the costs and benefits of the “Green Revolution” What are some ways farmers control weeds and pests? Why are pollinators important to farmers?

Each year, Earth gains 75 million people and loses 5–7 million hectares of productive cropland.

Section 4: Food Production How is our food produced and what impact does that food production have on our environment? What are GM foods? What does sustainable food production look like?

Human Needs Large amounts of macronutrients (protein, carbs, fats) Small amounts of micronutrients (A, C, E, iron, iodine, calcium) Chronic under nutrition: disease increase, stunted growth etc. Malnutrition: can not get enough protein mainly eating corn, rice, wheat Huge childhood problem Human Needs

Malnutrition UN Estimates: 5.5 million each year die prematurely due to effects of under nutrition. Each day 15,100 people --- 80% of which are children In U.S. estimates are 11 million do not have access to enough food

Over nutrition Food intake exceeds energy use and causes body fat Too many calories not enough exercise Lower life expectancy, heart disease, lower productivity and quality of life In developed countries it is 2nd leading preventable cause of death after smoking Over nutrition

Food Security Since 1960, our ability to produce food has grown faster than the human population, but 1 billion people are hungry worldwide. Malnutrition and undernourishment are most common in the developing world.

Arable Land Land suitable for farming Running out Loosing soil

Genetically Modified Organisms Organisms that have had their DNA modified Commonly engineered traits include rapid growth, pest resistance, and frost tolerance. In the United States, 85% of corn and 90% of soybean, cotton, and canola crops come from GM strains.

Risks and Benefits of GM Crops Potential for “superpests” that are resistant to pest-resistant crops Contamination of non-GM plants

Benefits of GM Crops Benefits: Insect-resistant crops reduce the need for insecticides. Herbicide-resistant crops encourage tillage conservation.

Industrial Food Production: Feedlots Alternative to open grazing in which energy-rich food is delivered to a concentrated group of livestock or poultry

Benefits and Cost of Feedlots (Factory Farms) Benefits: Reduces soil degradation and fertilizer use Costs: Requires antibiotic use; potential for water contamination and animal stress

What is this?

Industrial Food Production: Aquaculture Fish farming in a controlled environment

Benefits and Costs of Aquaculture Benefits: Can be sustainable; reduces by-catch; reduces fossil fuel use Costs: More difficult to control spread of diseases; produces a lot of waste; potential for farm-raised animals to escape into wild

Sustainable Agriculture Does not deplete soil faster than it forms Does not reduce the amount or quality of soil, water, and genetic diversity essential to long-term crop and livestock production

Sustainable Agriculture Organic agriculture is sustainable agriculture that does not use synthetic chemicals. Local, small-scale agriculture reduces the use of fossil fuels and chemicals used for transportation and storage.

U.S. Food travels avg. of 1,500 miles from farm to fork in U.S. New Jersey Peach Farm: What are the advantages and disadvantages of eating locally grown food?

Section 4 Review How is our food produced and what impact does that food production have on our environment? What are GM foods? What does sustainable food production look like?

Section 4 Quiz 1) Agriculture most likely began A. 10,000 years ago in the Middle East. B. 200,000 years ago in Africa. C. 15,000 years ago in China. D. 150,000 years ago in Egypt.

2) Genetic engineering relies on placing a gene that codes for a desired trait into the __________ of a different organism from the organism where the gene was originally harvested. A. protein B. amino acid C. helix D. genome

3) Your friend tells you she’s decided not to use pesticides or synthetic chemicals on her farm; instead she’ll rely on composting and biological pest control. She is practicing A. industrial agriculture. B. monoculture. C. organic agriculture. D. sustainable agriculture.

4) Sustainable agriculture is important because while human population continues to grow, which of the following will not? A. animal population B. arable land C. food production D. GM crops

5) What event enabled the evolution of agriculture. A 5) What event enabled the evolution of agriculture? A. a warming climate due to volcanic eruptions in Indonesia B. a sudden growth in human population C. a decrease in natural prey species, such as large hooved mammals D. a warming climate, which ended an ice age

6) A large area of cropland seeded with one crop is a(n) A. monoculture. B. polyculture. C. organic practice. D. traditional farming technique.

7) A farmer has an infestation of aphids and greenflies 7) A farmer has an infestation of aphids and greenflies. He introduces ladybugs, which prey on aphids, and uses a limited dose of a pesticide to deal with the flies. The farmer’s approach to insect pests is A. chemical control. B. biological control. C. integrated pest management. D. organic pest management.

8) You would expect to find most farmers who use GM crops living in A 8) You would expect to find most farmers who use GM crops living in A. relatively poor, undeveloped countries. B. countries with strong environmental protection laws. C. countries with weak environmental laws. D. relatively wealthy, developed countries.

9) The average food item in the United States travels 2400 km to reach the buyer. One alternative to this energy-inefficient practice is A. treating the food with preservative chemicals. B. buying locally produced food. C. buying organic food. D. buying GM food.

10) GM foods are engineered to resist herbicides so that A 10) GM foods are engineered to resist herbicides so that A. humans won’t be put at health risk from pesticides. B. insect pests will avoid the crops. C. the crops will grow more efficiently. D. farmers can use heavier doses of pesticides for weeds without killing the crop plants.

11) In the Chart, which is the most efficient source of animal protein?

12) Chart B illustrates energy transfer and trophic structure in a natural ecosystem. If this was an agriculture ecosystem, where would humans be located?