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Sookdeo ES Ch. 12
Soil and Agriculture
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| soil | plant-supporting system made up of disintegrated rock, remains and waste of organisms, water, gases, nutrients and microorganisms |
| parent material | base geological material in a particular location such as lava, volcanic ash, rocks, sediments or sand dunes |
| bedrock | continuous mass of solid rock that makes up Earth's crust |
| weathering | physical and chemical processes that break down rocks and minerals into smaller particles |
| soil horizon | distinct layers of soil |
| soil profile | cross section of all soil horizon in a specific soil from surface to bedrock |
| clay | particles less than 0.002 millimeter in diameter |
| silt | particles 0.002 to 0.05 millimeter in diameter |
| sand | mostly particles 0.05 to 2 millimeter in diameter |
| loam | even mixture of clat, silt and sand |
| soil degradation | deterioration of the soil characteristics needed for plants to grow |
| intercropping | planting of different crops in mixed arrangements |
| crop rotation | alternating crops grown in a field |
| cover crop | prevent erosion and often limit nitrogen loss |
| shelterbelts | reducing wind erosion |
| tilling | turning over of soil before planting |
| terracing | cultivate slopes on hillsides without losing huge amounts of soil to erosion |
| contour farming | plowing sideways across a hillside |
| overgrazing | too many animals eat too much of the plant cover |
| desertification | loss of more than 10% of productivity due to erosion, soil compaction, forest removal, forest removal, overgrazing, drought, salt buildup, climate change, depletion of water source and other factors |
| irrigation | water other than precipitation to crops |
| salinization | build up of salts in upper soil horizons |
| pesticides | chemicals that kill organisms that attack or compete with plants |
| traditional agriculture | use teams of worker animals, irrigation and organic fertilizer |
| yield | amount of a crop produced in a given area |
| industrial agriculture | produce huge amount of crops and livestock |
| green revolution | introduction of new technology, crop variety and farming practice |
| biological pest control | battle pests and weeds with organisms that eat or infect them |
| integrated pest management (IMP) | a combination of different techniques to achieve the most effective long term pest reduction |
| pollinators | feed on flower nectar, collect pollen on their bodies and take it to the next flower |
| arable land | land sustainable for farming |
| food security | guarantee of an adequate and reliable food supply for all people |
| malnutrition | shortage in nutrients the body needs |
| genetic engineering | scientists directly manipulate an organisms DNA |
| genetically modified organisms (GMO) | organisms that have undergone genetic engineering |
| biotechnology | use of genetic engineering to introduce new genes into organisms to produce more valuable products |
| feedlots | concentrated animal feeding operation or factory farms; warehouses or pens |
| aquaculture | breeding, raising or harvesting of aquatic plants or animals for food |
| seed bank | organizations that preserve seeds of diverse plants |
| sustainable agriculture | does not deplete the soil faster than it forms |
| organic agriculture | biological approach such as composting and biological pest control |
Created by:
dsookdeo
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