Week 4: Notes and Slides (16)

Question 1

Why is rice-paddy farming considered extremely labor-intensive?

Answer 1

Rice-paddy farming requires over 26 management techniques, with rice stalks being planted individually and a large knowledge base for aquaculture

Question 2

True or False

Statement: Rice stalks are planted in clusters in paddy farming to save labour.

Answer 2

Answer: False
Reason: Rice stalks are planted individually, which makes the process more labour-intensive.

Question 3

Which of the following is a method used in traditional rice farming to ensure seedlings survive in flooded paddy fields?

a) Germinating in dry nurseries before transplanting

b) Planting directly in water

c) Using floating platforms

d) Draining fields completely

Answer 3

a

Question 4

What is “slope management” in rice farming?

Answer 4

Slope management involves modifying the landscape, such as terracing, to control water flow and support paddy fields in hilly areas.

Question 5

Explain why wet-rice cultivation is “totally transformational” for the environment.

Answer 5

It involves damming rivers, controlling flow, creating terraces, and realigning ecosystems to artificial forms, with substantial environmental changes.

Question 6

True or False

Statement: Paddy field cultivation leaves a large environmental footprint due to ongoing deforestation.

Answer 6

Answer: False
Reason: While it transforms the environment initially, there is minimal further environmental impact afterward.

Question 7

Evidence of methane production from wet-rice cultivation can be found in:

a) Soil samples
b) Fossil records
c) Ice cores
d) Ocean sediments

Answer 7

C

Question 8

What hidden benefit does wet-rice cultivation have despite its intensive labour requirements?

Answer 8

Once established, it has minimal additional environmental impact compared to other forms of agriculture.

Question 9

Describe the relationship between aquaculture knowledge and rice-paddy farming.

Answer 9

Aquaculture knowledge is crucial for managing water quality and aquatic species in paddy fields, adding another layer of complexity to rice farming.

Question 10

What happens to rice plants in paddy fields if they are planted before reaching a certain height?

a) They thrive more

b) They yield more grain

c) They grow faster

d) They drown

Answer 10

d