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WorksheetsPlant Agriculture
Total questions: 33
Worksheet time: 19mins
The ecosystem in the western Plains of the United States is best described as a (a) . The precipitation there, compared to the eastern United States, is (b) . The temperature is best
described as (c) . Farming in the area began with the invention of the (d)
The most-produced crop in the western plains of the US at the beginning of the 20th century was (a) .
Unfortunately, a massive drought struck the region, resulting in a tremendous amount of
(b) the carried layers of topsoil miles and miles away.
Many early farmers of the Western U.S. plains believed a theory called “Rain Follows the Plow.” What was the problem with this theory?
Farming actually makes it rain less, not more.
The climate at the time farming took place was not any different than normal
The usually high precipitation during this period of early farming and settling was a coincidence.
This theory is actually true. Farming and settling an area makes it rain more frequently.
Which of these is false about the three staple crops?
They make up the majority (about two-thirds) of human consumption.
Corn (maize) is a staple crop.
Rice is a staple crop.
At least one of the staple crops is an animal product.
The 10% rule applies to raising plants and animals on a farm, just like in an ecosystem. With that in mind, how many pounds of grain would you expect to be needed to produce 10 pounds of beef?
10 pounds of grain.
50 pounds of grain.
100 pounds of grain.
Over 250 pounds of grain.
What soil conservation technique is shown to the right?
Terracing
Contour plowing
Monoculture
A windbreak
Which one of these techniques would be the best for reducing water erosion on farmland that is along a steep hillside?
Terracing
Contour plowing
Strip cropping
A windbreak
The Great Plains Shelterbelt was one of the public works programs instituted by Franklin Delano Roosevelt following the dust bowl. This is an massive example of …
Terracing
Contour plowing
Strip cropping
A windbreak
Only found in forests and includes leaf litter and other non-decomposed organic matter.
A Horizon
B Horizon
C Horizon
O Horizon
Parent Material
The clay-rich layer left behind after the dust storms of the Dust Bowl.
A Horizon
B Horizon
C Horizon
O Horizon
Parent Material
Topsoil; best for plants to root and grow in.
A Horizon
B Horizon
C Horizon
O Horizon
Parent Material
The rock which first gave rise to the soil when it eroded by wind or water.
A Horizon
B Horizon
C Horizon
O Horizon
Parent Material
Which of these statements accurately compares forest soils to grassland soils?
Grassland soils have much thicker O horizons due to the accumulation of fallen leaves.
Grassland soils have much thicker A horizons due to the deep root structure of the plants.
Forest soils have much thicker A horizons because very little leaching of nutrients takes place.
The two soils have nearly identical profiles, which each horizon being about the same thickness.
People living in developing countries are much more likely to be dependent on a single plant crop, such as rice, as a source of calories. What macronutrient makes up most of their diet?
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Fats
About the same amount of all of these macronutrients.
You watch a documentary about an impoverished country near the Sahara desert. Some of the children appear to have swollen stomachs. What malnutrition disorder do they have?
A goiter.
Anemia
Kwashiorkor
Obesity
What specific nutrient is missing in the diet of children thta have Kwashiorkor?
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Fats
Salt
A diet low in __________________ will result in the disorder ________________, which reduces the ability of the body to transport oxygen through the blood.
Iron / Kwashiorkor
Iron / Anemia
Iodine / Goiter
Protein / Kwashiorkor
A large farm in Iowa plants over a hundred acres of corn every year. This is the only crop they grow and sell. This is an example of what type of farming practice?
Subsistence agriculture
Crop rotation
Monoculturing
Irrigation
What type of irrigation is shown?
Furrow
Center-pivot
Drip
Contour
What is the most efficient type of irrigation?
Furrow
Flooding
Drip
Spray
Fertilizer is added to soil in order to replenish three main elements? Select the one that is NOT part of traditional fertilizer such as 10-10-10.
Carbon
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Potassium
You are looking at a box of Miracle-Gro at the hardware store. It is made from potash, which is mined from the ground, and ammonium nitrate, which is chemically manufactured. What type of fertilizer is it?
Inorganic
Organic – manure
Organic – compost
Some farms will rotate their crops annually with legumes to reduce the amount of fertilizer they have to add to their soil. Which of these crops would be a good legume rotational crop to replenish nitrogen?
Corn
Winter wheat
Soybeans
These are all legumes.
Legumes have special root nodules that contain colonies of bacteria. The bacteria receive nutrients from the plant, and the plant receives nitrogen from the bacteria. This is an example of a ________ relationship.
Mutualistic
Commensalistic
Parasitic
Most farms today use synthetic ________________ pesticides and herbicides (such as Round-up) to control their biological pests. The problem with these chemicals is that they ___________ in the environment.
Synthetic pesticides | Bioaccumulate
Botanical pesticides | Bioaccumulate
Synthetic pesticides | Biodegrade
Botanical pesticides | Biodegrade
On the food chain to the right, which organism would you expect to have the biggest concentration (and health effects) from the buildup of a synthetic pesticide in an ecosystem?
The clovers
The snail
The thrush
The sparrowhawk
Given the “Clean Fifteen” and “Dirty Dozen” lists that were in the plant agriculture powerpoint, which produce would you expect to have the greatest amount of pesticide residue?
Cantaloupe
Grapefruit
Avacados
Apples
A farmer using an Integrated Pest Management system on his farm would use which of these options as a last resort?
A synthetic chemical pesticide like Malathion.
Natural predators to the pests.
Choosing breeds of plants that have natural resistance to the pests.
Planting a different crop that is not targeted by the pests.
Farms that grow organic crops are not allowed to use…
Botanical pesticides
Synthetic fertilizers and insecticides
Compost and manure
Irrigation
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without the use of ________________
Water
Fertilizer
Soil
Sunlight
Which of these is an example of a genetically modified organism (GMO)?
A dog that is produced from mating two different breeds.
Yellow Dent corn, a much larger strain of corn bred from wild varieties.
A liger, which is born when a male lion and female tiger mate.
BT corn, which contains a gene from a bacterium that gives it resistance from the European corn borer.
Monsanto created crops that are genetically resistant to Round-up, which is a herbicide, which plant below is one of the main GMO crops that is resistant to Round-up and is widely grown in our area?
Corn
Green Beans
Watermelon
Tomatoes
Monsanto created crops that are genetically resistant to Round-up, which is a herbicide, which plant below is one of the main GMO crops that is resistant to Round-up and is widely grown in our area?
Soy beans
Green Beans
Watermelon
Tomatoes
