U5L4 Farming Land Use Flashcards
What is sustainable farming?
Farming by methods that meet a community’s current needs while preserving and protecting resources for the future.
How is sustainable farming better for the environment?
Sustainable methods can help farmers produce enough crops while reducing deforestation, erosion, and water usage, and sustaining the land for future farming.
What is the definition of sustainable agriculture?
Farming that meets current needs while preserving and protecting resources for the future.
What is agroforestry?
The intentional use of trees and shrubs in farming.
What is one example of agroforestry?
Planting tall trees to prevent winds from damaging weaker crops
What is the cover crop method?
Cover crop is a method in agroforestry
Introducing cover crops and shrubs to retain water, slow erosion, smother weeds, and improve the health of the soil
What is rotation of crops?
A different crop is planted each year, allowing the soil to rebuild its nutrients
What slash and burn?
Mainly in rainforest regions, farmers burn down vegetation in order to make room to plant crops.
Is slash and burn sustainable?
Nope.
Why would sustainable farmers plant Inga seedlings?
They shade out weeds and grasses, which creates space and restores soil.
Where is terrace farming used?
In mountainous regions
What is terrace farming?
Creating step on steep slopes of hills or mountains. n heavy precipitation, these steps control the release of water, preventing the soil nutrients and crops from washing away.
What happens if a farmer plants the same crop over again every year?
Nitrogen and other nutrients in the soil may be reduced, which cause farmers to rely on commercial fertilizers or cause significant reduced production in future years.
What is the definition of alley cropping?
A type of agroforestry in which rows of trees are planted in between rows of crops
What is the definition of hydroponics?
The use of water rather than soil to deliver nutrients to crops
What is the definition of polyculture?
The practice of growing more than one crop in an area of land
What is the definition of tillage?
Plowing or digging soil before planting
Compared to conventional farming, how much water does hydroponics use?
These systems use only 5 to 30 percent of the water required for conventional farming.
Where is agroforestry mainly used?
Tropical climates
What crops do crop rotations switch between?
Deep-rooted plants and short-rooted plants
Why is tillage better for the soil?
When farmers reduce tillage, they plant seeds directly into the soil with little digging beforehand. By not disturbing the soil, farmers can reduce the use of diesel-powered machinery and the risk of soil erosion.
What issue does terrace farming help solve?
Heavy rains washing away soil from mountainous farms
In which situation would hydroponics be most useful for sustainable farming?
A desert area with limited rainfall
