1. Agriculture & Environment
Ag Sci I

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

3. 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

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

5. Hydrological Cycle

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Problems Coming from Chemicals
Mutations

11. Mutations

12. Mutations

13. Mutations

14. Mutations

15. Mutations

16. Mutations

17. Mutations

18. 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

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

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

21. Erosion into streams

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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

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

27. Other Environmental Issues from Agriculture
Wetlands
Depletion of Water Resources

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. Flood Irrigation
Allows water to run OUT and OVER fields
                                    

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

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