Sustainable Agriculture Flashcards
reducing topsoil erosion and restoring soil fertility
soil conservation
converting steeply sloped land into a series of broad, nearly level terraces that run across land contours
terracing
plowing and planting crops in rows across or perpendicular to slopes rather than vertical or up and down the slope
contour planting
alternating strips of row crops with cover crops
strip-cropping with cover crop
crops are planted together in alleys between orchard trees or fruit-bearing shrubs
alley cropping / agroforestry
growing plants by exposing their roots to a nutrient-rich water solution instead of soil, usually inside a greenhouse
hydroponics
wastewater from fish tanks flows into hydroponic troughs where it nourishes the plants with nutrients from fish’s wastewater
aquaponic systems
using ______ _______ is a way to restore soil fertility
organic fertilizers
- animal manure, green manure, compost
- crop rotation
a production system that is managed to respond to site-specific conditions integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity
organic agriculture
-cover crops, manure, crop rotation
-biological control
are ways to practice what type of agriculture
organic agriculture
live for 2 or more seasons without needing to be replanted
perennial polyculture
reduce time, labor, inputs, improve habitats
how perennials help the environment
focusing on more renewable energy sources in agricultural production is a feature of sustainable agriculture
renewable energy
examples of renewable energy used on farms
wind, solar, flowing water, biogas digesters
sequence of processes by which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen
anaerobic digesters
