SOIL: What is it?Name: _________________________________Date: ____________________________Period:________

Soil Composition

Soil Formation1. Weathering

2. Erosion & deposition

3. Decomposition

Soil Horizons

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Soil Characteristics1. _____________ major soil groups

2. Classified by….

3. Soil texture is based on __________________size.

Loam is a relatively equal mixture of all three particles.

Soil Degradation & Conservation2

Erosion is the ______________ by which material, such as topsoil, is moved from one __________ to another.

Erosion is caused by ___________________ processes & human activities.

Erosion occurs faster than soil is ______________________, depleting nutrients in the topsoil.

Crops, _______________ & other plant communities protect soil from erosion.

Farming practices that reduce erosion…

1) Intercropping: different ___________________ mixed together2) Crop rotation: crops are ________________________3) Shelterbelts: tall plants block ______________4) Conservation tillage: ____________ turnover is reduced5) Contour farming: planting perpendicular to hill’s ______________________________

Ranching practices1) Ranching is the raising & grazing of ____________________.2) Overgrazing causes & worsens many ______________ problems.3) Range managers encourage grazing _______________ and enforce them on publicly

owned land.

Forestry practices1) Forestry practices such as _______________ - ________________ can increase erosion2) Today, practices that reduce soil erosion are selective logging, are increasingly

common.

Desertification is the loss of more than _______% of soil productivity.

Causes: soil compaction, ____________________, overgrazing, drought, or other factors

Arid & semi-arid lands are more _________________.

The _______________ Bowl was a major desertification event in the 1930s.

Soil conversation effortsUS Soil Conservation Act (1935): Established the Soil Conservation Service, today called the _______________________________________________________________________.

Farmer-centered Agricultural Resource Management Program (FARM): A United Nations effort that focuses on __________________ challenges in developing ________________.

Soil Pollution

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Too much irrigation can waterlog _______________ and lead to salinization – a buildup of ________________ in upper soil horizon.

Toxic pesticides can remain in ___________ for a long time, eventually filtering to _____________.

AgricultureSelective Breeding & SettlementIn early agriculture, people began planting ______________ from plants they liked most, a form of selective breeding.

Crop cultivation enable people to ___________ permanently often near water sources, and raise ___________________.

Agriculture and livestock provide a stable _________ supply, which allowed the development of modern civilization.

Traditional AgricultureAgriculture “powered” by people and _______________.

Does not require _______________ ____________

Practiced by widely until the Industrial Revolution.

Industrial AgricultureAgriculture that requires the use of _____________ ______________.

Involves mechanized farming technology, manufactured ____________________, and large-scale irrigation.

To be efficient, large areas are planted with a single crop in a _________________________.

The Green RevolutionIntroduced new technology, crop varieties and farming practices to the developing world in the mid to late 1900s.

Benefits:

1) Increase _________ yields and saved millions of people from starvation in India & Pakistan

2) Prevented some ____________________________ and habitat loss by increasing yields on cultivated land.

Costs:

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1) Led to ______% increase in energy used by agriculture2) Worsened erosion, salinization, ______________________________, eutrophication and

pollution.

Pests & Weed Control1) Chemical pesticides: Effective and ______________ but can lead to resistance2) Biological pest control: Permanent solution but can harm nontarget

________________3) Intergrated Pest Management: Increasingly popular solution, combines chemical

and ___________________________ pest- control solutions

PollinatorsPollination is the process by which plants ____________________ sexually.Agriculture relies on __________________________ such as insects.Native and domesticated pollinator populations have __________________ due to pesticide use, __________________ and other as of yet unknown causes.

Food SecuritySince 1960, our ability to produce __________ has grown faster than the human population, but 1 billion people are ____________________ worldwide.Malnutrition and undernourishment are the most _________________ in the developing world.Agriculture scientists and policymakers are working towards ____________ security- the guarantee of an adequate food supply for all ____________________ at all times.

Genetically Modified OrganismsOrganisms with modified _____________.Commonly engineered _________________ include rapid ______________, pest resistance and frost tolerance.In the US, 85% of __________ and 90% of _________________, cotton and canola crops come from GM strains.

Risks & Benefits of GM CropsRisks….

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1) Potential for “______________________” that are resistant to pest-resistant crops.2) Contamination of non-GM cropsBenefits…..

1) Insect resistant ________________ reduce the need for insecticides.2) Herbicide-resistant __________ encourage tillage conservation. Tilling is the turning

over of soil before planting.

Industrial Food Production: FeedlotsAlternative to open _________________ in which energy-rich food is delivered to concentrated groups of livestock or poultry.Benefits: Reduces _____________ degradation and fertilizer useCosts: requires antibiotic use, potential for ____________ contamination and animal stress.

Industrial Food Production: AquacultureFish farming in a controlled ___________________________.Benefits….. Can be sustainable, ________________ by-catch, reduces _____________ fuel useCosts……More difficult to control spread of ________________, produces a lot of waste, potential for farm raised animals to ________________ into the wild.

Sustainable AgricultureDoes not deplete the _________ faster than it formsDoes not ______________ the amount of quality of soil, water, and genetic diversity essential to long-term crops and livestock production.Organic agriculture is ________________________ agriculture that does not use synthetic chemicals.Local, small-scale, agriculture _______________ the use of fossil fuels and chemicals used for ____________________________ and storage.

What do PLU codes say about your produce? May 7, 2010 11:44 AM

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You know those little stickers on fruits and veggies? They’re called price look-up (PLU) codes and they contain numbers that cashiers use to ring you up. But you can also use them to make sure you’re getting what you paid for. Here’s what to look for:

• A five-digit number that starts with a 9 means the item is organic.

• A four-digit code beginning with a 3 or a 4 means the produce is probably conventionally grown. For example, regular small lemons sold in the U.S. are labeled 4033, large are 4053; small organic lemons are coded 94033, large are 94053.

• A five-digit code that starts with an 8 means the item is genetically modified (it has genes from other organisms). You won’t see many of those because only genetically modified versions of corn, soybeans, canola, cotton, papaya, and squash are now widely sold. And because PLU codes aren’t mandatory, companies can label those items as conventional. The problem is that although an estimated 60 to 70 percent of food items sold, including packaged goods, have genetically modified ingredients, little is known about the long-term effects of consuming them, and concerns have been raised about an increase in allergies and other health issues. For more info, visit the Non-GMO Shopping Guide website.

This article first appeared in the May 2010 issue of ShopSmart magazine. For more health and shopping advice, pick up a copy on newsstands now.

Source: http://news.consumerreports.org/health/2010/05/decode-your-produce-what-do-plu-codes-mean-when-to-buy-organic-fruits-and-vegetables.html

Soil – Agriculture Review worksheet

Matching: Please choose the correct word to match the definition & place the letter on the line provided.

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______1. A distinct layer of soil A. Soil

______2. Soil particles that are less than 0.002 mm in diameter B. Weathering

______3. Equal parts of sand, clay & silt C. Overgrazing

______4. Cross-section of all soil horizons in a specific soil D. Crop rotation

______5. The mixture of disintegrated rock, organic matter, water, gases, nutrients and microorganisms that supports plant growth E. Sand

______6. Soil conservation where two or more crops are planted on one field F. Intercropping

______7. Soil particle that are 0.05 – 2.0 mm in diameter G. Soil profile

______8. Physical & chemical processes that break down rocks and minerals into smaller particles H. Loam______9. Allowing animals to eat so much the plant cover cannot regrow I. Soil horizon

______10. Different types of crops are grown in the same field from year to year J. Clay

Please label the soil horizon diagram below. Include the name of the horizon & what you find there.

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Multiple Choice: Choose the best answer._______1. Soil texture is based on

A. fertility.B. particle size. C. acidity or alkalinity.D. the arrangement of soil particles

_______2. The type of soil with the smallest average particle size isA. silt.B. clay.C. sand.D. loam.

_______3. The organic matter in soil includesA. MineralsB. Living and decomposing organismsC. Living organisms onlyD. Bedrock

_______4. Crop rotation does all the following EXCEPTA. Minimize erosionB. Let fields lie fallowC. Return nutrients to the soilD. Break the cycle of disease

_______5. Traditional agriculture may use all of the following EXCEPTA. Teams of work animalsB. IrrigationC. Fossil fuelsD. Organic fertilizer

_______6. Because of the green revolution, between 1961 and 2008, food productionA. Increased 150 % while the population doubledB. Kept pace with population growthC. Did not increaseD. Was mostly organic

_______7. A secure food supply depends on all of the following exceptA. maintaining healthy soil and waterB. Increased use of fertilizerC. Safe distribution of the foodD. Biodiversity

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_______8. Industrial food production includesA. AquacultureB. MonoculturesC. FeedlotsD. All of the above

_______9. Which horizon contains the topsoil?A. Horizon OB. Horizon AC. Horizon ED. Horizon B

_______10. ________________ is agriculture that does not deplete soil faster than it forms.A. Industrial agricultureB. Sustainable agricultureC. Organic agricultureD. Traditional agriculture

Matching: Choose the best word to match the definition.

_______1. A chemical that kills organisms that attack or compete with plants A. Sustainable

Agriculture

_______2. Use of genetic engineering to increase the value of a product B. green revolution

_______3. Raising of aquatic organisms for food in a controlled environment C. traditional

Agriculture

_______4. Guarantee that adequate and reliable food is available for all peopleD. feedlot

_______5. Type of sustainable agriculture where only biological methods are usedE. GM organisms

_______6. Organisms who DNA has been manipulated F. food security

_______7. Huge warehouse designed to deliver energy rich food to livestockG. aquaculture

_______8. Farming dependent on animal & human power only H. organic agriculture

_______9. New technologies, crops and farming practices to the developing countriesI. pesticide

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_______10. Farming that does not deplete soil faster that it forms J. biotechnology

Short answer: Please answer the following questions w/details.

1. How are pollinators important to crop agriculture?

2. What do each of the four characteristics of soil(color, texture, pH & structure) indicate about its ability to support plant life?

3. Explain how overgrazing and planting in poor soil can cause a cycle of desertification.

4. Do you think organic products are worth the extra cost?

5. How have industrial agriculture and the green revolution affected the world’s population?

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6. What are two disadvantages and two advantages of industrial food production?

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