Agriculture: Feeding a Population

Question 1

what was the Green Revolution and why is it important?

Answer 1

Beginning of industrial farming- introduction of
scientifically breed or selected varieties of grain (rice, wheat, maize) that, with adequate inputs of fertilizer and
water, can greatly increase crop yields and food security for more people; large influence on exponential growth
world wide due to reduction of environmental resistance for food.

Question 2

Highest to lowest global production: corn, rice, wheat

Answer 2

corn, wheat, rice

Question 3

four innovations that led to the green revolution

Answer 3

artificial selection of GMO, Synthetic pesticides/herbicides, Irrigation, Synthetic fertilizers

Question 4

pros of gmo’s

Answer 4

used as artificial selection for drought/ pest resistant crops; increases crop yield; tolerant to herbicides;
produce fruits without seeds, increases shelf life or enrich nutrients,

Question 5

cons of gmo’s

Answer 5

can threaten biodiversity (especially insects); can lead to antibiotic resistance in bacteria

Question 6

intercropping

Answer 6

plantings between the rows of crops that stabilize the soil and if they are legumes; enrich
nitrogen into the soil

Question 7

planting

Answer 7

contour planting (planting around hills); terracing

Question 8

strip cropping

Answer 8

alternating rows or regions of the type of crops you plant within the same year

Question 9

crop rotation

Answer 9

changing the type of crops you plant year to year

Question 10

tilling

Answer 10

conservation tillage mulches plant to return nutrients to soil; no-till collects only the portion of the plant
needed for food and leaving the roots behind to anchor soil