Environmental Science Quiz

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Questions and Answers

An advantage of using synthetic fertilizer instead of organic fertilizer is that

  • synthetic fertilizer is less expensive than organic fertilizer
  • synthetic fertilizer can provide more targeted macronutrients to the crops (correct)
  • synthetic fertilizer is better for soil health than organic fertilizer
  • synthetic fertilizer is more readily available in most parts of the world

A vegetable farmer wishes to switch to a combination of trees and vegetables (agroforestry) on several hectares of her land to reduce erosion and to diversify what she grows. She needs to assess whether her land can produce as much income by growing two crops instead of one. The farmer estimates that the new tree crop would cover 40 percent of her fields, with the vegetable crop covering the other 60 percent. Which equation should she use to calculate how much total income she would get from using the new two-crop plan?

  • ($ income treesha × total ha × 0.4) + ($ income vegha × total ha × 0.6) = agroforestry income (correct)
  • ($ income total × 0.4) + ($ income total × 0.6) = agroforestry income
  • ($ income treesha × total ha × 0.4) - ($ income vegha × total ha × 0.6) = agroforestry income
  • ($ income treesha + total ha × 0.4) + ($ income vegha + total ha × 0.6) = agroforestry income
  • ($ income treesha × 0.4) + ($ income vegha × 0.6) = agroforestry income

Country with the greatest percentage of land area affected by desertification

  • Russia
  • Chile
  • Australia (correct)
  • United States of America
  • Brazil

When a rain forest is slashed and burned, the local concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases. This is primarily due to

<p>oxidation of carbon compounds (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Factors contributing to the rise in world hunger include all of the following EXCEPT

<p>increasing consumption of vegetable protein in place of meat protein (E)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following problems is best addressed with contour plowing?

<p>Soil erosion (E)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about genetic diversity is true?

<p>Genetic resistance to pests and diseases can be increased by crossing a crop plant with ancestral varieties (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following methods of agricultural irrigation results in the loss of the least amount of water by evaporation?

<p>Drip irrigation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements identifies a concern associated with the increased proportion of GM crops being grown?

<p>Use of GM seeds can lead to loss of genetic diversity in crops (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Glyphosates are herbicides that are often applied to genetically modified (G M) crops to kill weeds without harming the crop itself. Which of the following statements best explains the relationship shown on the graph?

<p>The use of glyphosate has selected for herbicide resistance in weed populations (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a fundamental characteristic of the green revolution in food resources?

<p>The development of new strains of crops with higher yields (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is likely to minimize soil erosion?

<p>No-till agriculture (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following practices is consistent with the production of organic crops according to the United States Department of Agriculture?

<p>Using chemicals known as pheromones to disrupt insect mating cycles (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Long-term intensive agriculture that does not add soil amendments such as manure or fertilizer has been shown to decrease soil organic matter content. Which of the following figures best shows this relationship?

<p>Figure C (E)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best represents the percent of water that is used for various purposes worldwide?

<p>Agriculture70%Industrial and Municipal20%Residential and Commercial10% (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Q16 Read monetary return an irrigation from graph Which of the following statements best explains the graphs above?

<p>Fruits and vegetables give the greatest monetary return per water usage (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following procedures would be best for remediating the effects of soil salinization?

<p>Addition of large amounts of water to leach out salts (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

This type of irrigation uses a large system of sprinklers that must be manually moved from field to field and has very large evaporative losses.

<p>Spray irrigation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true of the Ogallala Aquifer?

<p>It underlies the United States High Plains and is being depleted by overuse (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents a correct pairing of an agricultural practice with its environmental consequence?

<p>Paddy rice cultivation and methane emissions (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Synthetic fertilizers vs organic fertilizers

Synthetic fertilizers can provide specific nutrients in higher concentrations compared to organic fertilizers, allowing farmers to tailor nutrient delivery to meet the specific needs of their crops.

Calculating agroforestry income

The farmer calculates total income by multiplying the income per hectare for each crop by the area dedicated to that crop and then adding the results.

Country with highest desertification

Australia has the largest percentage of land area affected by desertification among the listed countries.

Carbon dioxide increase from burning rainforests

When decomposing organic matter, like wood and leaves, in the rain forest, carbon compounds are broken down and oxidized, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

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Factors NOT contributing to world hunger

The increasing consumption of vegetable protein is a positive trend for food sustainability and does not contribute to world hunger.

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Contour plowing benefits

Contour plowing helps prevent soil erosion by creating furrows that follow the contours of the land, slowing water runoff and allowing more water to infiltrate the soil.

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Genetic diversity and resistance

Crossing crop plants with ancestral varieties increases genetic diversity, leading to greater resistance to pests and diseases.

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Drip irrigation vs. water loss

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the roots of plants, minimizing water loss through evaporation, which reduces the amount of water needed for irrigation.

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Concerns with GM crops

The use of GM seeds can reduce genetic diversity in crops, making them more vulnerable to pests, diseases, and environmental changes.

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Glyphosate resistance in weeds

The increased glyphosate resistance in weed populations indicates that glyphosate use has selected for weeds with resistance genes, which can spread to other weed populations.

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Green revolution's key characteristic

The green revolution focused on developing new high-yielding crop varieties through selective breeding and genetic modification.

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No-till agriculture and soil erosion

No-till agriculture helps minimize soil erosion by leaving crop residue on the soil surface, which protects the soil from wind and water erosion.

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Organic farming practices

Organic farming practices allow the use of chemicals known as pheromones to disrupt insect mating cycles, providing natural pest control without using synthetic pesticides.

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Soil organic matter depletion

Intensive agriculture without soil amendments depletes soil organic matter over time, as organic matter is decomposed without replenishment.

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Global water use distribution

Worldwide water use is divided roughly as follows: Agriculture (70%), Industrial and Municipal (20%), Residential and Commercial (10%).

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Monetary return on water use per crop

Fruits and vegetables have a higher monetary return per unit of water used compared to other crops, indicating their efficiency in water use.

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Remediating soil salinization

Adding large amounts of water to salinized soil helps flush out excess salts, reducing their concentration and improving soil quality.

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Spray irrigation and water loss

Spray irrigation uses sprinklers that are moved from field to field, leading to significant water loss through evaporation.

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Ogallala Aquifer and depletion

The Ogallala Aquifer is a large underground water source in the High Plains, but its water level is declining due to excessive pumping for agricultural irrigation.

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Paddy rice cultivation and greenhouse gas

Paddy rice cultivation, a flooding method, releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from the soil.

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Study Notes

Synthetic vs. Organic Fertilizers

  • Synthetic fertilizers provide more targeted macronutrients to crops than organic fertilizers (e.g., manure).

Agroforestry Income Calculation

  • To calculate agroforestry income, multiply the income per hectare from trees by the total land area and the proportion of land covered by trees (0.4). Similarly, calculate the income from vegetables by multiplying the income per hectare for vegetables by the total land area and the proportion of land covered by vegetables (0.6). Sum these two figures to determine total income.

Desertification

  • Australia has the greatest percentage of land area affected by desertification.

Slash-and-Burn Rainforests & Carbon Dioxide

  • Slash-and-burn deforestation increases atmospheric carbon dioxide due to oxidation of carbon compounds.

Factors Contributing to World Hunger

  • Increased consumption of vegetable protein instead of meat protein is not a factor contributing to increased world hunger.

Soil Erosion Prevention

  • Contour plowing helps prevent soil erosion.

Genetic Diversity in Crops

  • Crossing crop plants with ancestral varieties can increase genetic resistance to pests and diseases.

Irrigation Methods & Water Loss

  • Drip irrigation results in the least water loss due to evaporation.

Concerns Regarding GM Crops

  • Increased use of GM seeds can lead to loss of genetic diversity in crops.

Glyphosate & Herbicide Resistance

  • Glyphosate use has selected for herbicide resistance in weed populations.

Green Revolution Characteristics

  • The green revolution involved the development of new, high-yield crop strains.

Soil Erosion Mitigation

  • No-till agriculture helps to minimize soil erosion.

USDA Organic Crop Practices

  • Using pheromones to disrupt insect mating cycles is consistent with USDA organic crop production.

Soil Organic Matter & Intensive Agriculture

  • Long-term intensive agriculture without soil amendments (e.g., manure or fertilizer) decreases soil organic matter.

Global Water Usage

  • Agriculture uses 70% of the world's water, while industrial/municipal use accounts for 20% and residential/commercial accounts for 10%.

Monetary Return of Irrigation

  • Fruits and vegetables generally have the highest monetary return per unit of water used.

Soil Salinization Remediation

  • Adding large amounts of water to leach out salts is an effective soil remediation measure for soil salinization.

Spray Irrigation

  • Spray irrigation involves a system of sprinklers that move between fields. This method has significant evaporative losses.

Ogallala Aquifer

  • The Ogallala Aquifer, underlying the US High Plains, is being depleted due to overuse.

Agricultural Practice & Environmental Consequence

  • Paddy rice cultivation results in methane emissions.

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