Soil & Agriculture review

The five factors that influence soil formation include climate , organisms, landforms, time and ​ _________________.

• parent material

• erosion

• grain size

• bacteria

The process by which nonliving organic matter is broken down into a much simpler form of matter, and thus adds nutrients into the soil. This process is usually done by bacteria living in the soil.

• erosion

• desertification

• decomposition

• weathering

When scientists from developed nations introduced new farming methods into the developing world in order to grow more crops to feed people in these nations, particularly India and Mexico.

• Green Revolution

• Industrial Revolution

• Agricultural Revolution

• The Dust Bowl

Industrial agriculture is a type of farming that relies on technology and chemicals to __________ yields (or productivity) and reduce costs.   

• increase

• decrease

• stabilize

Desertification is:

• Something that happens after dinner.

• The loss of freshwater supplies due to water diversion projects such as building dams.

• The damage and loss of soil productivity due to erosion, deforestation, overgrazing, drought/dry conditions.

• When urban areas (cities) spread out into neighboring farmlands.

Monocultures are:

• Typically only used in timber industry.

• The large-scale planting of a single crop species, resulting in plants that are vulnerable to the same diseases and pests.

• The damage and loss of soil productivity due to erosion, deforestation, overgrazing, drought/dry conditions.

• The primary way that crops were grown 10,000 years ago during the agricultural revolution.

Using this in farming (see the image provided) allows for dry regions to become fertile farmland.

• irrigation

• erosion

• contour farming

• pasteurization

The loss of soil productivity, when soil is blown away by wind or washed away by water.

• irrigation

• erosion

• salinization

• soil pollution

Intercropping is a type of farming method. It is:

• when rows of trees or other tall plants are planted along the edges of fields to slow the wind.

• planting different crops in mixed arrangements in order to reduce erosion.

• when soil is not turned over before planting—seeds are just placed into holes dug into the topsoil.

• Plowing sideways across a hillside, perpendicular to the hill’s slope.

Planting windbreaks/shelterbreaks is a type of farming method. It is:

• when rows of trees or other tall plants are planted along the edges of fields to slow the wind.

• planting different crops in mixed arrangements in order to reduce erosion.

• when soil is not turned over before planting—seeds are just placed into holes dug into the topsoil.

• Plowing sideways across a hillside, perpendicular to the hill’s slope.