Deck 23: sustainable Agriculture: Raising Crops Farming Like an Ecosystem

Question 1

All of the following are considered sustainable farming techniques EXCEPT _______.

A)reduced tillage
B)crop rotation
C)strip cropping
D)heavy pesticide use
E)terrace farming

Answer 1

heavy pesticide use

Question 2

Sustainable agriculture is defined as a ______________________.

A)plant-breeding program focused on developing high-yield varieties (HYVs)of grain crops
B)plant-breeding program focused on the production of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)to increase crop productivity or create new varieties of crops
C)farming method in which one crop variety is planted over a large area of land with significant inputs of fertilizer,pesticides,and water
D)farming method that does not use any synthetic fertilizer,pesticides,or other chemical additives
E)farming method that does not deplete resources,such as soil and water,faster than they are replaced

Answer 2

farming method that does not deplete resources,such as soil and water,faster than they are replaced

Question 3

Rearing meat or dairy animals in confined spaces,maximizing the number of animals that can be grown in a small area,is referred to as a __________.

A)sustainable agriculture system
B)concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO)
C)monoculture
D)traditional agriculture system
E)transgenic operation

Answer 3

concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO)

Question 4

What is organic agriculture? Explain how it is similar to and different from sustainable agriculture,using livestock production as an example.

Question 5

In monoculture,the crops grown are usually _______.

A)a mix of plants
B)different each season
C)self-fertilizing
D)drought tolerant
E)the same single crop every year

Question 6

Which of the following is TRUE of organic farming?

A)Organically grown food has similar levels of pesticides as food grown conventionally.
B)Organic farms can grow genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
C)Organically produced food can be more nutritious than food grown conventionally.
D)Organic farming can use chemical fertilizers if needed.
E)Organically grown food has a shorter shelf life than food grown conventionally.

Question 7

Organic agriculture is a type of which farming method?

A)sustainable
B)industrial
C)commercial
D)global
E)nonprofit

Question 8

A farm that plants non-locally adapted crops likely uses ________ agriculture methods.

A)sustainable
B)industrial
C)organic
D)commercial
E)home/personal

Question 9

What is the one possible result of growing crops in marginal soil?

A)cultural eutrophication
B)dependence on fertilizer
C)lower yields
D)increased greenhouse gas release
E)All of these answers are potential results.

Question 10

What were the Massas were having problems with on their rice farm?

A)azolla
B)ducks
C)insects
D)snakes
E)wildlflowers

Question 11

Modern industrial agriculture methods __________________.

A)rely on renewable energy sources to power modern farming equipment
B)maintain and enrich ecosystem services
C)focus all resources on a single crop
D)avoid the use of chemical fertilizers
E)are referred to as organic

Question 12

Which strategy would Greg and Raquel Massa NOT apply in managing their farm,given their conversion to sustainable agriculture?

A)planting native oak trees along field borders as a windbreak
B)using transgenic golden rice seeds that are nutritionally enhanced to produce vitamin A
C)introducing ducklings into rice paddies as a natural weed control
D)building nest boxes for wood ducks,barn owls,and bats so that these wild animals will keep pests in check
E)installing a recirculation system to reclaim and reuse irrigation water

Question 13

Which green bean would likely have a higher nutrient content?

A)one grown on a new industrial farm
B)one grown on an established industrial farm
C)They would both have the same nutrient content.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a negative consequence associated with confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs)?

A)Cattle CAFO operations cause soil salinization,since cows drink so much water.
B)Since CAFO animals are more vulnerable to disease,farmers use heavy doses of antibiotics,which contributes to antibiotic resistance.
C)CAFOs contribute to global warming,since livestock emit greenhouse gases as part of their digestive process.
D)CAFO operations are not sustainable,since they are heavily dependent on external inputs,such as feed that is added from outside its own ecosystem.
E)Hog CAFO operations can pollute local waterways due to the vast quantities of manure that are produced in a small area.

Question 15

________ is farming without the use of synthetic fertilizers,pesticides,and other chemical additives.

A)Synthetic farming
B)Organic agriculture
C)The Green Revolution
D)Industrialized agriculture
E)Symbiotic agriculture

Question 16

Characteristic features of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)include which of the following?

A)Such operations raise only beef cattle.
B)They use a lot of land relative to the number of animals raised.
C)The manure is difficult to collect,as there are so many animals in a small space.
D)Animals are generally not permitted to roam free.
E)They have no net negative environmental impact.

Question 17

In monoculture farming,farmers usually choose crops which _______.

A)are best suited to the existing ecosystem
B)grow more quickly than other crops
C)have the highest market demand
D)will provide the highest yield
E)require the least amount of water

Question 18

The farming technique that is seen in most industrial farms is called ________ agriculture.

A)organic
B)integrated
C)monoculture
D)polyculture
E)None of these answers fit the description.

Question 19

Environmental issues caused by industrial farming techniques include which of the following?

A)eutrophication
B)reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizer
C)heavy use of pesticides
D)formation of a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico
E)All of these answers are environmental issues caused by industrial farming.

Question 20

Soil salinization occurs when _______.

A)salt is added to the soil as a natural insecticide
B)too much fertilizer is used in one area
C)animals are introduced to the fields
D)water brought to the fields through irrigation evaporates
E)not enough variety of crops are planted in one area

Question 21

Refer to Infographic 4.Use the infographic to describe integrated farming at Takao Furuno's duck/rice farm.

Question 22

Refer to Infographic 3.Describe how application of chemical pesticides encourages the emergence of pesticide-resistant pest populations.

Question 23

Genetic diversity decreases in what type of farming?

A)sustainable
B)organic
C)commercial
D)monocultural
E)global

Question 24

In sustainable agriculture,_________ is to soil erosion as ____________ is to soil fertility.

A)strip cropping; contour farming
B)terrace farming; crop rotation
C)cover cropping; reduced tillage
D)contour farming; terrace farming
E)crop rotation; windbreaks

Question 25

By planting corn one year and beans the next on a given plot of land,or by planting alfalfa as a cover crop during the off-season,a farmer reduces the need for ___________ because beans and alfalfa fix nitrogen in the soil.

A)herbicides
B)pesticides
C)inorganic fertilizers
D)expensive irrigation techniques
E)harvesting machinery

Question 26

What is the first step in integrated pest management?

A)developing an action plan
B)setting an action threshold
C)monitoring pest species
D)identifying true pests
E)using cultural control methods

Question 27

What are monocultures and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)? Describe pros and cons of each in industrialized agriculture.

Question 28

Which factor(s)contribute(s)to the emergence of pesticide-resistant crop pest populations?

A)lack of genetic diversity in the pest population
B)the ability of individual pests within a population to survive exposure to the pesticide and reproduce
C)organic farming techniques
D)the ability of pesticide reapplication to kill all pests in a population
E)All of these answers are factors that contribute to the emergence.

Question 29

Reduction of soil fertility and decreased effectiveness of pesticides as resistance emerges are examples of which social trap?

A)time delay
B)sliding reinforcer
C)tragedy of the commons
D)sliding delay
E)wicked problem

Question 30

Which kind of pest management system falls more in line with the methods of sustainable farming?

A)cultural
B)mechanical
C)biological
D)chemical
E)Cultural,mechanical,and biological are all pest control methods used in sustainable farming.

Question 31

Refer to Infographic 2.How do industrial agricultural methods lead to eutrophication and dead zones?

Question 32

By using agroecology,Takao Furuno received financial gains.What was he able to sell from his land?

A)rice
B)duck eggs
C)fish
D)figs
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 33

Which of the following would NOT be a sustainable agriculture method to reduce soil erosion?

A)reduced tillage
B)contour farming
C)terrace farming
D)cover cropping
E)strip cropping

Question 34

What is the goal of integrated pest management?

A)controlling pest species while minimizing chemical toxins
B)eliminating all pest species through any means necessary
C)controlling pest species using only biological control methods
D)eliminating all insect species in agricultural areas
E)controlling pest species with traditional agricultural techniques

Question 35

A rice farmer can use integrated farming techniques in which ducklings,azolla,and fish are used to produce their crops without any extra chemical additives.This integrated technique _______________.

A)represents a method of organic farming
B)is sustainable
C)produces more than just rice as a product to sell
D)eliminates the need for synthetic and toxic chemicals
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 36

Which of the following sustainable farming techniques disrupts the life cycle of pests,making it difficult for pest populations to build up and cause outbreaks?

A)contour farming
B)cover crops
C)crop rotation
D)terrace farming
E)reduced tillage

Question 37

The Irish potato famine was caused by a pathogen that quickly and successfully infected and killed millions of potato plants in Ireland.Based on the speed and ability of the pathogen to infect the plants,what kind of farming technique was likely implemented by the Irish?

A)sustainable
B)organic
C)monoculture
D)CAFOs
E)strip cropping

Question 38

Ladybugs are beetles that eat aphids,a small insect pest species that suck liquid out of plants.If you have a problem with aphids in your garden and release ladybugs to control the aphids,which type of control method are you using?

A)cultural
B)mechanical
C)biological
D)chemical
E)traditional

Question 39

When using agroecology,Takao Furuno added ducklings to the rice paddies.What was one purpose of the ducklings?

A)eat all the azolla
B)flatten the young rice seedlings
C)eat all the rice seeds
D)provide fertilizer
E)encourage more ducks to come to the rice paddies

Question 40

What are some potential hazards to using biological methods of pest control?

Question 41

Consumers enjoy many benefits from sustainable farming.Which of the following is a benefit of sustainable farming to consumers?

A)no pesticide residue on produce
B)better taste
C)animal products contain no hormones
D)fresher produce
E)All of these answers are benefits.

Question 42

What are ways you can personally support sustainable/organic farming techniques and help them become more widely employed?

Question 43

Why is sustainable farming a better way to grow food? Provide three reasons.What are the trade-offs? Discuss three.

Question 44

Which of the following is an advantage of sustainable farming for the farmer/environment?

A)The soil is not degraded.
B)There is less potential for water pollution.
C)Beneficial insects are not killed.
D)All of these answers are advantages.
E)None of these answers is an advantage.

Question 45

The 1930s Dust Bowl was caused by severe drought in prairie lands,coupled with farming techniques that left the bare soil vulnerable to wind erosion.Which of the following sustainable farming techniques would help prevent such a phenomenon from happening again?

A)contour farming
B)depression farming
C)reduced tillage
D)terrace farming
E)strip cropping

Question 46

The distance a food travels from its site of production to the consumer is ____________.

A)decreased in countries where industrialized agriculture is practiced
B)typically less than 100 miles in the United States
C)not a sustainability issue,since fossil fuels are plentiful in most countries
D)not a factor when calculating the ecological footprint of a food
E)referred to as food miles

Question 47

What is an advantage of growing perennial crops?

A)increased soil erosion
B)increased soil fertility
C)decreased irrigation need
D)the ability to grow in any environment
E)There are no advantages over growing annual crops.

Question 48

Which of the following is a disadvantage of sustainable farming for the consumer?

A)Fruits and vegetable are less uniform and may contain more blemishes.
B)The items have a shorter shelf life.
C)Usually the items are more expensive.
D)All of these answers are disadvantages.
E)None of these answers is a disadvantage.

Question 49

Many advantages and disadvantages are associated with sustainable farming techniques,for the environment,the consumer,and the farmer.Which of the following is FALSE?

A)Sustainable farming is more labor intensive than traditional farming.
B)More subsidies are available for farmers who use sustainable techniques.
C)Soil is not degraded as much when sustainable agricultural techniques are used.
D)Usually,organic products are more expensive to the consumer.
E)All of these answers are true statements about sustainable farming.

Question 50

Sustainable farming would have less ____________ but would be more ____________.

A)expense and inputs; labor intensive
B)potential for causing water pollution; at risk for causing soil degradation
C)genetic and species diversity; likely to have many beneficial insects
D)hormone residues in the milk; than likely to have antibiotic residue in the meat
E)utilization of crop rotation and cover cropping; apt to use integrated pest management and fertilizers

Question 51

Which of the following in an example of greenwashing that you may find on a food label?

A)produced locally (from commercial farm)
B)contains only natural ingredients
C)cage-free eggs
D)healthy organic brownies
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 52

________ is a term that describes misleading claims about the healthiness of organic foods.

A)Greenwashing
B)Organic washing
C)Organic inaccuracy
D)Transgenic
E)Greencarding

Question 53

Which of the following is an advantage of organic farming?

A)Fruits and vegetables grown without pesticides are typically blemish-free and have a long shelf life,since they are picked when ripe and waxed as protection.
B)Organic food is less expensive,since there are many subsidies available to organic farmers that get passed on to customers.
C)Food is healthier,as there is no pesticide residue on the produce and organic food may contain more antioxidants.
D)There is more genetic and species diversity,as crops can be grown without concern for what is climatically suitable to a given area.
E)Labels on organic food are clear and never misleading,as the certification process is stringent but straightforward.

Question 54

Which of the following choices is MOST important to buy organic,if possible?

A)kiwi
B)cabbage
C)mushrooms
D)grapes
E)onions

Question 55

Which food likely has the smallest carbon footprint?

A)a pineapple shipped from Hawaii
B)a soybean from a local commercial farm
C)an organic banana shipped from Costa Rica
D)an organic strawberry from a local farm
E)Both an organic banana shipped from Costa Rica and an organic strawberry from a local farm have equally small footprints.

Question 56

As a consumer,you need to be wary of purported health claims made on organically grown foods.How could such claims be validated?

Question 57

As the human population continues to grow,we increase our demand for food.Describe how we can meet increased food demand in a way that is sustainable for the long term.

Question 58

Discuss several trade-offs associated with organic farming for the consumer,the farmer,and the environment.

Question 59

An increase in crop genetic diversity is an advantage of what kind of farming?

A)sustainable
B)commercial
C)global
D)industrial
E)All farming decreases genetic diversity.

Question 60

Refer to Infographic 6.Which methods increase soil fertility,and why?

Question 61

Match each term in the left-hand column to the statement that it best exemplifies.

Question 62

Using ladybugs in the fields to help control insect pests is an example of _____ control:

A)cultural
B)mechanical
C)biological
D)chemical

Question 63

What is a problem Janis and John may encounter when using fertilizers on their corm crops?

A)increased soil productivity
B)cultural eutrophication of nearby lakes
C)increased crop yield
D)decreased insect pests

Question 64

Science Literacy Use the following graph from the Farming Systems Trial (FST)research study conducted by the Rodale Institute to answer the following questions.
The energy input for conventionally grown crops in megajoules (MJ)per area per year is ____________.

A)3,264
B)4,568
C)7,832
D)1,304

Question 65

Science Literacy Use the following graph from the Farming Systems Trial (FST)research study conducted by the Rodale Institute to answer the following questions.
In this study,the FST compared traditional tillage (turning and breaking up the soil)with no-till treatments on different plots to examine the effect on crop growth.What would be the dependent variable in this experiment?

A)the traditional tilling method
B)the no-till method
C)the crop yield
D)the type of crop used

Question 66

Science Literacy Use the following graph from the Farming Systems Trial (FST)research study conducted by the Rodale Institute to answer the following questions.
Using an organic method to grow crops instead of conventional farming methods saves _________ pounds of carbon dioxide per acres per year.

A)906
B)1,400
C)949
D)494
E)1,490

Question 67

Which of the following BEST describes the original farming methods Janis and John were using?

A)sustainable agriculture
B)polyculture
C)agroecology
D)industrial agriculture

Question 68

Science Literacy Use the following graph from the Farming Systems Trial (FST)research study conducted by the Rodale Institute to answer the following questions.
Which of the following statements is supported by the graph?

A)Organic farming methods increased all the variables examined in the study.
B)Conventional farming methods produce as much crop yield in pounds per acre per year as organic farming methods.
C)More profit can be made with less energy input when using organic farming methods instead of conventional farming methods.
D)There are economic benefits to using only organic farming methods instead of conventional farming methods.

Question 69

What advantage do Janis and John have planting perennial wheat instead of annual wheat?

A)a higher profit
B)using more herbicides
C)replanting every year
D)reduced irrigation

Question 70

The next year Janis and John alternate the corn crops with alfalfa in strips several rows wide.This method is called _____.

A)contour farming
B)crop rotation
C)strip cropping
D)cover cropping
E)terrace farming

Question 71

What benefit does reduced tilling have?

A)reduced soil erosion and water needs
B)reduced pest outbreaks
C)increased soil fertility
D)reduced water loss after a rainfall

Question 72

Science Literacy Use the following graph from the Farming Systems Trial (FST)research study conducted by the Rodale Institute to answer the following questions.
How much more profit could a farmer expect to make per acre per year if she used the organic farming method instead of the conventional farming method?

A)$558
B)$190
C)$748
D)$368
E)$465