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S5 Geography > Ch 5.5 Can modern agricultural technologies increase farm production sustainably? > Flashcards

Ch 5.5 Can modern agricultural technologies increase farm production sustainably? Flashcards

1
Q

What are the limitations of farming technologies?

A
  1. Misuse and overuse of pesticides and herbicides.
  2. Excess use of nitrate fertilizers (Eutrophication).
  3. Overdrawing groundwater for irrigation.
  4. Use of farming machines.
  5. Global warming.
  6. Safety of GM foods.
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2
Q

Elaborate on misuse and overuse of pesticides and herbicides as one of the limitations of farming technologies.

A
  1. Kill target pests and other insects but some pest species may become resistant to pesticides -> become super pest
  2. Certain insects and plants are killed completely.
  3. Kill the bacteria and fungi in the soil.
  4. Being washed into the rivers or lakes.
  5. Pollute the groundwater.
  6. Residual traces of pesticides on crops.
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3
Q

Elaborate on certain insects and plants are killed completely as one of the points of misuse and overuse of pesticides and herbicides as one of the limitations of farming technologies

A
  1. Other insect and plant species may suddenly rise in number.
  2. Loss of diversity and breakdown of food chain.
  3. Destroy the balance of the ecological system.
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4
Q

Elaborate on kill the bacteria and fungi in the soil as one of the points of misuse and overuse of pesticides and herbicides as one of the limitations of farming technologies.

A
  1. Slow down the rate of decomposition, resulting in fewer organic matters in the soil.
  2. Soil degradation.
  3. Destroy the balance of the ecological system.
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5
Q

Elaborate on being washed into the rivers or lakes as one of the points of misuse and overuse of pesticides and herbicides as one of the limitations of farming technologies.

A
  1. Water pollution
  2. Wildlife may be killed.
  3. Destroy the balance of the ecological system.
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6
Q

Elaborate on pollute the groundwater as one of the points of misuse and overuse of pesticides and herbicides as one of the limitations of farming technologies.

A
  1. Pesticides and herbicides are washed into the rivers and lakes or percolate into the groundwater.
  2. Pollution of drinking water.
  3. Harm people’s health.
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7
Q

Elaborate on residual traces of pesticides on crops. as one of the points of residual traces of pesticides on crops as one of the limitations of farming technologies.

A
  1. Contaminate food products.
  2. Harm people’s health.
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8
Q

Elaborate on excess use of nitrate fertilizers as one of the limitations of farming technologies.

A

-> More nutrients for water plants and algae.
-> Algae blooms.
-> Toxins from algae can kill fish and other aquatic organisms.
-> Water plants die.
-> When dead plants and algae are decomposed -> oxygen is used up.
-> Fish and other organisms suffocate.
-> Destroy the aquatic ecosystem

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9
Q

Elaborate on overdrawing groundwater for irrigation as one of the limitations of farming technologies.

A
  1. Land subsidence.
  2. Contaminate freshwater supply.
  3. Salinization of soil.
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10
Q

Elaborate on land subsidence as one of the points of overdrawing groundwater for irrigation as one of the limitations of farming technologies.

A

-> Rate of groundwater withdrawal is faster than the rate of replacement.
-> Water table drops.
-> Groundwater is depleted.
-> Land collapses.

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11
Q

Elaborate on contaminate freshwater supply as one of the points of overdrawing groundwater for irrigation as one of the limitations of farming technologies.

A

Salt water intrude into the groundwater.

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12
Q

Elaborate on salinization of soil as one of the points of overdrawing groundwater for irrigation as one of the limitations of farming technologies.

A

-> Irrigation water can dissolve salts in the soil and leach them to the subsoil.
-> Under dry climate, evaporation rate is high.
-> Evaporation draws up the dissolved salts to the topsoil.
-> When the water evaporates, the salts are left to the top soil. -> form a salty crust
-> High concentration of salts limits the water absorption of crops.
-> The land becomes unproductive -> land degradation.

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13
Q

Elaborate on use of farming machines as one of the limitations of farming technologies.

A
  1. Powerful ploughing machines.
  2. Heavy farm machines.
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14
Q

Explain on powerful ploughing machines as one of the points of use of farming machines as one of the limitations of farming technologies.

A

-> Loosens the soil through deep ploughing
-> Accelerates wind and water erosion.
->Soil erosion speeds up.
-> Top soil is lost.
-> Soil fertility and land productivity drop.

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15
Q

Explain on heavy farm machines as one of the points of use of farming machines as one of the limitations of farming technologies.

A

-> Compacts the soil.
-> Infiltration drops.
-> Surface run off rise.
-> Accelerates water erosion.
-> Soil erosion speeds up.
-> Top soil is lost.
-> Soil fertility and land productivity drop.

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16
Q

Explain on global warming as one of the limitations of farming technologies.

A
  1. Overusing nitrate fertilizers release large amounts of nitrous oxide.
  2. Running farm machines increases the consumption of fossil fuels, and leads to more greenhouse gases emission especially carbon dioxide.
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17
Q

Explain on safety of GM foods as one of the limitations of farming technologies.

A
  1. Increase resistance of weeds and pests to chemicals.
  2. Undesired gene movement.
  3. Transfer of allergies.
  4. Viruses spread across species.
  5. Inadequate control on the application of GM crops.
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18
Q

What is sustainable farming?

A

Sustainable farming encourages the use of eco-friendly farming methods. It causes fewer disturbances to the fragile environment and maintains a balance between three aspects.

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19
Q

What are the five ways to achieve sustainable farming?

A
  1. Water conservation.
  2. Soil conservation.
  3. Precision farming.
  4. Integrated pest management.
  5. Organic farming.
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20
Q

Elaborate on water conservation as one of the five ways of sustainable farming.

A
  1. Irrigate at night.
  2. Use treated urban waste as irrigation.
  3. Grow water-efficient crops e.g. drought-resistant crops.
  4. Practise dry farming.
  5. Use high-tech sensors that calculate the water needs of crops.
  6. Using the technique of water harvesting to catch rainwater from slopping lands by digging microbasins/ semi-circular band/ half moons/ demi-lune. -> allow water to seep into the soil -> retain soil moisture and prevent loss of fertile soil
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21
Q

What is dry farming?

A

It is often described as crop production without irrigation during a dry season. (a dry-farmed crop is irrigated once or not at all)

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22
Q

What is half moon?

A

Semi-circular hide open basins used to collect run off water. Most of the half moons must face a slope where rainfall will flow during precipitation.

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23
Q

What is the ways of soil conservation?

A
  1. Multiple cropping.
  2. Cover cropping.
  3. Mulching.
  4. Planting windbreaks.
  5. Agroforestry.
  6. Contour-ploughing.
  7. Terracing (built on slopes)
  8. Conservation tilage.
  9. Crop rotation.
  10. Fallowing.
  11. Mixed farming.
  12. Building dignettes/ mini-dam.
  13. Using eco-friendly rock phosphates, lime, caffle manure and mineral fertilizers.
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24
Q

What is multiple cropping?

A

Plant two or more types of crops at the same time on the same plot of land in a year.

25
Q

Elaborate on multi cropping as one of the ways of soil conservation.

A
  • Prevent monoculture -> reduce soil erosion.
  • Prevent depletion of a particular kind of nutrient in the soil. Soil fertility can be maintained.
  • Enrich the biodiversity of the farm.
  • Control pests, diseases and weeds.
  • Different types of crops are planted to take advantage of the different seasons. For example, intercropping.
26
Q

What is cover cropping?

A

Grow cover crops on the field during off-season times

27
Q

Elaborate on cover cropping as one of the ways of soil conservation.

A
  • Protect the topsoil from wind and water conservation.
  • Leguminous crops can help fix nitrogen in the soil.
  • Improve the soil structure and the water-holding capacity of soil.
  • Fast-growing cover crop competes strongly with weeds for space, light, nutrients and moisture -> keep out weeds, and therefore reducing the need for herbicides.
  • Conserves water.
28
Q

What is mulching?

A

Cover the topsoil with organic and inorganic mulch.

29
Q

Elaborate on mulching as one of the ways of soil conservation.

A
  • Protect the topsoil from wind and water erosion.
  • Keep soil moisture by reducing evaporation.
  • Increase the content of organic matter in the soil when the organic mulch is decomposed.
  • Suppress weed growth as sunlight is blocked.
  • Conserve water.
30
Q

What is plant windbreaks?

A

Plant rows of trees at the edges of the fields.

31
Q

Elaborate on plant windbreaks as one of the ways of soil conservation.

A
  • Reduce wind speed, thus helping slow down soil erosion.
  • Fallen branches and leaves can enrich the soil.
  • Provide space and shelter for wildlife and increase biodiversity.
    E.g. “Great Green Wall” project in Sahel.
32
Q

What is agroforestry?

A

Grow trees with crops and/or animal production.

33
Q

Elaborate on agroforestry as one of the ways of soil conservation.

A
  • Control soil erosion.
  • Leguminous crops and certain trees can fix nitrogen in the soil.
  • Provide space and shelter for wildlife and increase biodiversity.
  • Crops and/or livestock become more productive.
  • Timber and fruits from trees are other sources of income.
34
Q

What is contour ploughing?

A

Grow crops in a way that follows the natural contour of the land.

35
Q

Elaborate on contour ploughing as one of the ways of soil conservation.

A
  • Prevent water from moving downslope. This slows down soil erosion.
  • As nutrients are preserved in the fields, fewer fertilizers are needed.
36
Q

How is contour ploughing different from terracing?

A

Contour ploughing follows the natural gradient of the slope and doesn’t alter it. Terracing alters the slope to create platforms at different elevations to grow crops.

37
Q

What is terracing?

A

Grow crops on terraces that are built on slopes.

38
Q

Elaborate on terracing as one of the ways of soil conservation.

A
  • Flat surface on terraces allow more infiltration and soil moisture content.
  • Prevent soil erosion.
  • Maximize the use of sloping land for farming.
  • Conserve water.
39
Q

What is conservation tilage?

A

Farmers reduce tillage or do not till the land at all before growing crops.
- Avoid ploughing.
- Permanent soil core.
- Crop rotations and intercropping.

40
Q

Elaborate on conservation tilage as one of the ways of soil conservation.

A
  • Minimize the disturbance to the topsoil.
  • Reduce soil erosion and soil compaction.
  • Conserve soil moisture/ water.
  • Save fuel costs and labour costs.
  • Less carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere as less fuel is used.
  • Reduce dust that causes air pollution.
41
Q

What is crop rotation?

A

Grow a series of different types of crops in the same field in sequential seasons.

42
Q

Elaborate on crop rotation as one of the ways of soil conservation.

A
  • Avoid the depletion of certain nutrients.
  • By rotating cereals and leguminous crops, the leguminous crops help maintain soil fertility.
  • Interrupt pest lifecycles. -> control pests.
  • As crops with deep and shallow root systems are grown on the same field in different seasons, the soil structure is improved.
  • Conserve water.
43
Q

What is fallowing?

A

Farmers leave the fields fallow after years of cropping. (ranges from 1-5 years)

44
Q

Elaborate on fallowing as one of the ways of soil conservation.

A
  • Help the field to replenish the soil nutrients.
  • Conserve soil moisture/ water.
  • Increase beneficial microorganisms in the soil.
  • Improve the moisture-holding capacity of the soil.
45
Q

What is mixed farming?

A

Both arable and pastoral farming are carried out on a farm.

46
Q

Elaborate on mixed farming as one of the ways of soil conservation.

A
  • Keep the soil rich because manure from livestock provides nutrients for the soil.
  • Increase farm income due to produce diversity.
47
Q

Elaborate on building dignettes/ mini dam as one of the ways of soil conservation.

A
  • Lines of stones laid along the contours of gently sloping farmland to catch rainwater and reduce soil erosion.
  • Allow water to seep into the soil and reduce ovrland flow.
48
Q

Elaborate on eco-friendly rock phosphates, lime, caffle manure and mineral fertilizers as one of the ways of soil conservation.

A

Improve soil fertility.

49
Q

What is precision farming?

A

It reduces water wastage and minimizes the danger of polluting the environment.

50
Q

What is integrated pest management?

A

It discourages pests during crop production and at the same time minimizes the use of pesticides.

51
Q

Elaborate on integrated pest management.

A
  1. Reduce the use of pesticides.
  2. Protect the crops from pests.
  3. Reduce exposure of workers and the public to pesticides.
  4. Increase the cost effectiveness of pest management programmes.
52
Q

Elaborate on reduce the use of pesticides as one of the points from integrated pest management.

A
  1. Protect non-target species from elimination.
  2. Reduce potential air and water pollution.
  3. Ensure food safety.
53
Q

What are the ways of organic farming?

A
  1. Crop rotation.
  2. Using naturally decomposed fertilizers compost and manure to enrich the soil.
  3. Biological and physical methods to control pests and weeds. e.g. yellow sticky trap.
  4. Careful use of water resources.
  5. Recycle materials and resources; rely on renwable resources.
54
Q

What is the benefit of crop rotation?

A

Soil conservation.

55
Q

What are the benefits of using naturally decomposed fertilizers compost and manure to enrich the soil?

A
  1. Soil conservation.
  2. Reducing use of chemical fertilizers.
56
Q

What is the benefit of biological and physical methods to control pests and weeds?

A

Reducing the use of pesticides and herbicides.

57
Q

What is the benefit of careful use of water resources?

A

Water conservation.

58
Q

What is the benefit of recycle materials and resources and rely on renewable resources?

A

Environmentally friendly.

S5 Geography (7 decks)

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