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ENVS > Chapter 4 > Flashcards

Chapter 4 Flashcards

1
Q

Why does agricultural diversity matter?

A

Cost-effective pest and disease management
Options to manage climate risks
Contributes to health and nutrition
Plays a role in sustaining soil health and habitats for important pollinators

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2
Q

How are people casual agents?

A

Population pressures

Poor management of agricultural land

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3
Q

When is land considered degradated?

A

When it’s productivity is diminished

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4
Q

What effects does degradation have on soil?

A

Soil erosion (serious)
Decreased soil fertility
Contamination (e.g. pesticides)
Salinization

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5
Q

What effects by does degradation have on land?

A

Overgrazing by livestock

Deforestation/Desertification

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6
Q

What happens when geological erosion occurs?

A

Geological erosion is a natural leveling process

New soil forms faster than old soil can be removed

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7
Q

What is accelerated erosion?

A

Erosion caused by water or wind

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8
Q

Which type of erosion is more destructive?

A

Accelerated erosion

10 to 100 times more destructive than geological erosion

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9
Q

What are some on-site effects of erosion?

A

Loss of topsoil

Washing away of seeds

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10
Q

What are some off-site effects of erosion?

A

Sediment damage to water

Windblown dust

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11
Q

What is the Universal soil loss equation?

A 
A = Rainfall erosivity + Soil erodibility + Topographic Factor +Cover and management + erosion control practices
A = RKLSCP
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12
Q

What are riparian buffer strips?

A

Natural or planted species along the bank of a stream or lake, reduces water velocity(erosion)

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13
Q

Name 3 Best Management Practices

A

Conservation Tillage
Riparian Buffer Strips
Cover crops and mulch

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14
Q

What are some soil conservation practices?

A

Contour farming
Contour buffer strips
Terrances
Contour stripping

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15
Q

Name 3 factors that affect wind erosion

A 
Wind velocity and turbulence
Soil surface conditions 
Roughness
Moisture content
Aggregate stability
Texture
Vegetation
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16
Q

What are some wind erosion control measures?

A

Soil moisture control
Conservation tillage
Barriers (windbreaks, grasses, fences)

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17
Q

How much of the Earth’s water is freshwater?

A

3%

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18
Q

Define eutrophication

A

Enrichment of water with nutrients

This happens when fertilizers end up in the water supply

19
Q

Define anoxia

A

Absence of oxygen

20
Q

What are the most important limiting nutrients for aquatic systems?

A

Nitrogen and Phosphorous

21
Q

What is the cause of an ocean dead zone?

A

When the algae die their decay consumes a large amount of oxygen from the water and this leads to oxygen depletion or anoxia

22
Q

What is a leading contributor to reduced water quality

A

soil erosion

23
Q

What is the grasshopper effect?

A

Volatile substances move north by a series of ops

Multiple cycles of evaporation and condensation

24
Q

What characteristics should the ideal pesticide have?

A
  • Selective
  • Biodegradable
  • Non-persistent
  • Non-mobile
25
Q

Name 6 Greenhouse gasses.

A 
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Nitrous Oxide 
Water
Chlorofluocarbons
Ozone
26
Q

What do GHG’s do?

A

Absorb outgoing infrared radiation and warm the atmosphere

27
Q

What are some positive impacts of climate change on agriculture?

A

Increased productivity
Possibility of growing new crops
Larger growing seasons
Decreased moisture stress

28
Q

What are some negative impacts of climate change on agriculture?

A

Increased insect infections
Crop damage from extreme heat
Planning problems due to less reliable forecasts
Increased soil erosion
Decreased herbicide and pesticide efficiency
Increased moisture stress

29
Q

Greenhouse gas emissions per kg of food are highest for:

A

Lamb

30
Q

This gas is NOT a greenhouse gas but it negatively affects air quality and is particularly associated with agriculture:

A

NH3

31
Q

More than half of the total emissions of this greenhouse gas come from the agricultural sector:

A

N20

32
Q

Agricultural biodiversity is important because it can potentially provide farmers with a way to manage pests and diseases.

A

True

33
Q

In the Universal Soil Loss Equation, C is related to:

A

Crop Type

34
Q

In the Universal Soil Loss Equation, K is related to:

A

Soil organic matter

35
Q

Riparian buffer strips can lead to increased eutrophication problems

A

False

36
Q

The agricultural sector is the single largest contributor to total water USE in Canada.

A

False

37
Q

The process(es) by which pesticides end up in the far north is related to:

a) Volatility of the pesticide
b) Selectivity of the pesticide
c) Mode of action of the pesticide
d) Persistence of the pesticide
e) Two of the above

A

E - two of the above

38
Q

Greenhouse gases absorb incoming short wave radiation from the sun.

A

False

39
Q

The earth would be _______________ without the presence of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

A

33oC colder

40
Q

The following is NOT considered to be a potential climate change impact to Canadian agriculture.

a) Decreased productivity from enhanced CO2
b) Increased productivity from warmer temperatures
c) Increased insect infestations
d) Increased soil erosion
e) Increased droughts

A

A - decreased productivity from enhance CO2

41
Q

Intraspecific biodiversity can help a crop withstand environmental pressures like drought or pests.

A

True

42
Q

Which of the following animal products consumes the most water (on a per pound basis)?

A

Beef

43
Q

This greenhouse gas is also responsible for destroying the ozone layer:

A

CFCs

ENVS (9 decks)

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