3. agriculture and the environment Flashcards
weathering
processes that cause rock to be broken down into smaller particles
erosion
the movement of rock and soil fragments to different locations
arable farming
the production of crops from land
pastoral farming
farming that focuses on breeding and rearing livestock
mixed farming
farming that practises both rearing livestock and growing crops
extensive production
farming that is spread over a wide area and uses less resources per metre of land
intensive production
farming that aims to maximise the yield from an area using a large amount of resources
legumes
plants that contains nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the roots to produce a source of nitrates
mulch
a natural or artificial layer on the soil surface used to reduce water evaporation and weed growth
genetically modified organism (GMO)
an organism whose genetic material has been altered by genetic engineering
greenhouse
a building made of glass or similar transparent material that is used to manage the environmental for plant growth
growing blueprint
the growing requirements of a crop throughout its life, which a grower can use to maximise the yield
hydroponics
growing plants without soil, with the nutrients the plant needs dissolved in water
eutrophication
a sequence of events starting with enrichment of water by mineral nutrients or organic matter that leads to a reduction in oxygen levels in the water and the death of fish and other animals
famine
a lack of access to food often over a large area
malnutrition
not having enough of the correct nutrients to eat causing ill health
terracing
an artificial development of flat areas fro growing crops in a sloping terrain
contour ploughing
a technique where the furrows are caused by ploughing the contours of the land
bund
an embankment constructed around the edge of an area to reduce the loss of a liquid
windbreak
a permeable barrier made of either living vegetation or artificial material, used to reduce the impact of wind on an area
intercropping
the technique of growing other crops between the rows of a main crop maximising the use of nutrients and water
rainwater harvesting
the collection of rainwater and storage in a tank or reservoir for later use
