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Enviro ch 9
Term | Definition |
---|---|
arable land | fertile land that can be plowed to grow crops |
biological pest control | pest control using living organisms or naturally produced chemicals |
desertification | deterioration of land to the point that it becomes desert-like |
droughts | period when rainfall is less than average causing crop failure |
erosion | the wearing away of topsoil by wind or water |
famine | widespread food shortage |
fertile soil | soil that can support the rapid growth of healthy plants |
low-input farming | farming that does not use a lot of energy, pesticides, fertilizers, and water |
malnutrition | poor health condition caused by not consuming enough necessary nutrients |
no-till farming | procedure in which the seeds of the next crop are planted in slits cut into the soil through the remains of the previous crop |
pathogens | disease-causing organisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites |
pest | any organism that is not wanted or that exists in large enough numbers to cause damage |
pesticides | substances that kill pests |
resistence | the ability of a pest population to tolerate a particular pesticide |
salinization | the accumulation of salts in the soil |
substance farming | farmers who grow only enough food to feed their families |
topsoil | loose surface layer of soil |
yield | amount of crops produced per unit area |