Agriculture and Soil

Question 1

ore

Answer 1

a rock that contains a large enough concentration of mineral to make it profitable to a mine

Question 2

organic fertilizer

Answer 2

slow acting and long lasting because the organic remains need time to decompose

Question 3

humus

Answer 3

organic, dark material remaining after decomposition by microorganisms

Question 4

leaching

Answer 4

removal of dissolved materials from soil by water moving downwards

Question 5

illuviation

Answer 5

deposit of leached material in lower soil layers (B horizon)

Question 6

loam

Answer 6

perfect agricultural soil with optimal portions of sand, silt, clay (40%, 40%, 20%)

Question 7

salinization of soil

Answer 7

in arid regions, water evaporates, leaving salts behind

Question 8

major insecticide groups (and examples)

Answer 8

chlorinated hydrocarbons (DDT), organophosphates (malathion), carbamates (aldicarb)

Question 9

pesticide pros

Answer 9

saves lives from insect-transmitted diseases, increases food supply, increases profits for farmers

Question 10

pesticide cons

Answer 10

genetic resistance, ecosystem imbalance, pesticide treadmill, persistence, bioaccumulation, biological magnification

Question 11

natural pest control

Answer 11

better agricultural practices, genetically resistant plants, natural enemies, biopesticides, sex attractants

Question 12

monoculture

Answer 12

cultivation of a single crop, usually in a large area

Question 13

food

Answer 13

wheat, rice, and corn provide more than half of the calories in the food consumed by the world’s people