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Questions and Answers
Iowa's mean annual temperature is about 50 degrees Celsius.
Iowa's mean annual temperature is about 50 degrees Celsius.
False (B)
Approximately ______ of Iowans live in urban settings.
Approximately ______ of Iowans live in urban settings.
60%
Which of the following counties in Iowa has the largest population?
Which of the following counties in Iowa has the largest population?
What is the approximate number of farms in Iowa as reported by the USDA NASS in 2020?
What is the approximate number of farms in Iowa as reported by the USDA NASS in 2020?
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Match the county with its approximate acreage covered by farms in 2018.
Match the county with its approximate acreage covered by farms in 2018.
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The number of farms in Iowa has been consistently decreasing over the past 30 years.
The number of farms in Iowa has been consistently decreasing over the past 30 years.
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What is the approximate percentage of Iowans with a BS/BA degree (25 years or older)?
What is the approximate percentage of Iowans with a BS/BA degree (25 years or older)?
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What is the approximate percentage of land in Iowa covered by farms?
What is the approximate percentage of land in Iowa covered by farms?
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According to Lee's premise, the success of plant growth is crucial for:
According to Lee's premise, the success of plant growth is crucial for:
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Soil degradation is directly related to the loss of plant productivity, meaning desirable plants struggle to grow as well as before.
Soil degradation is directly related to the loss of plant productivity, meaning desirable plants struggle to grow as well as before.
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Identify two roles that soil plays in facilitating gas exchange for plants.
Identify two roles that soil plays in facilitating gas exchange for plants.
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The soil profile of Fayette, an extensive soil found in several Midwestern states, is characterized by distinct ______ horizons.
The soil profile of Fayette, an extensive soil found in several Midwestern states, is characterized by distinct ______ horizons.
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Match the following soil functions with their descriptions:
Match the following soil functions with their descriptions:
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What is the estimated loss of farmland in Iowa each year?
What is the estimated loss of farmland in Iowa each year?
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Iowa has lost less than 1 million acres of prime farmland to non-farm uses over the past 40 years.
Iowa has lost less than 1 million acres of prime farmland to non-farm uses over the past 40 years.
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Which of these soil types is the most prevalent in Iowa?
Which of these soil types is the most prevalent in Iowa?
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What is the average CSR2 rating for Iowa's soils?
What is the average CSR2 rating for Iowa's soils?
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Iowa's corn and soybean yields in 2018 were ______ and ______ bu/acre, respectively.
Iowa's corn and soybean yields in 2018 were ______ and ______ bu/acre, respectively.
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Which of the following are key factors contributing to land degradation in Iowa, as discussed in the text?
Which of the following are key factors contributing to land degradation in Iowa, as discussed in the text?
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Iowa's corn and soybean yields have been consistently decreasing over the past few decades due to soil degradation.
Iowa's corn and soybean yields have been consistently decreasing over the past few decades due to soil degradation.
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What is the estimated number of acres of prime farmland lost in Iowa annually?
What is the estimated number of acres of prime farmland lost in Iowa annually?
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Iowa has approximately ______% of the world's arable land.
Iowa has approximately ______% of the world's arable land.
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Match the following soil types with their characteristics:
Match the following soil types with their characteristics:
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What is the primary reason cited in the text for the decline in the number of traditional farms in Iowa?
What is the primary reason cited in the text for the decline in the number of traditional farms in Iowa?
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Iowa's agricultural production is sufficient to feed its entire population, with a surplus that could potentially feed a much larger number of people.
Iowa's agricultural production is sufficient to feed its entire population, with a surplus that could potentially feed a much larger number of people.
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Explain the connection between low prices and the potential for land degradation, as described by Lee's rule of thumb.
Explain the connection between low prices and the potential for land degradation, as described by Lee's rule of thumb.
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The ancient civilization of Mesopotamia, located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, is considered the ______ of agriculture.
The ancient civilization of Mesopotamia, located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, is considered the ______ of agriculture.
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Match the following historical events related to Mesopotamia with their approximate dates:
Match the following historical events related to Mesopotamia with their approximate dates:
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Which of the following factors contributed to the decline of Mesopotamia as a self-sustaining breadbasket?
Which of the following factors contributed to the decline of Mesopotamia as a self-sustaining breadbasket?
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The historical example of Mesopotamia provides evidence that civilization is inherently unsustainable and prone to collapse, regardless of societal advancements.
The historical example of Mesopotamia provides evidence that civilization is inherently unsustainable and prone to collapse, regardless of societal advancements.
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What is the estimated increase in Iowa's food calories by 2083, based on the projected yield growth rate?
What is the estimated increase in Iowa's food calories by 2083, based on the projected yield growth rate?
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The average CSR2 rating for Iowa's soils is ______, with the best soils having a rating of 100.
The average CSR2 rating for Iowa's soils is ______, with the best soils having a rating of 100.
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Match the following soil characteristics with their descriptions:
Match the following soil characteristics with their descriptions:
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Which of the following statements about Iowa's agricultural future is most accurate based on the provided information?
Which of the following statements about Iowa's agricultural future is most accurate based on the provided information?
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Which of the following crops were cultivated in ancient Greece?
Which of the following crops were cultivated in ancient Greece?
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Olive trees can live for up to 1,500 years but the typical lifespan is closer to 500 years.
Olive trees can live for up to 1,500 years but the typical lifespan is closer to 500 years.
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What was the primary reason for the switch from cereal production to grape and olive cultivation in ancient Rome?
What was the primary reason for the switch from cereal production to grape and olive cultivation in ancient Rome?
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The ______ River in China is a major source of erosion due to agricultural practices.
The ______ River in China is a major source of erosion due to agricultural practices.
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Match the following historical civilizations with their primary agricultural challenges:
Match the following historical civilizations with their primary agricultural challenges:
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What is the primary reason for the significant erosion in the Chinese Loess Plateau?
What is the primary reason for the significant erosion in the Chinese Loess Plateau?
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China has successfully managed to eliminate soil erosion through large-scale restoration efforts.
China has successfully managed to eliminate soil erosion through large-scale restoration efforts.
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What is China's current strategy to address the challenge of food production?
What is China's current strategy to address the challenge of food production?
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According to Bill Jury's rule of thumb, ______ cubic meters of water are required to produce 1 ton of grain.
According to Bill Jury's rule of thumb, ______ cubic meters of water are required to produce 1 ton of grain.
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The Yellow River has never run dry due to its constant water source.
The Yellow River has never run dry due to its constant water source.
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What is a major environmental concern in the Imperial Valley in southern California?
What is a major environmental concern in the Imperial Valley in southern California?
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What is the primary reason for the decline in snowpack in California's mountains?
What is the primary reason for the decline in snowpack in California's mountains?
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One way to mitigate the impact of erosion along the Yellow River has been to build ______ along its banks.
One way to mitigate the impact of erosion along the Yellow River has been to build ______ along its banks.
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The Dust Bowl in the Great Plains of the United States was primarily caused by excessive rainfall leading to flooding.
The Dust Bowl in the Great Plains of the United States was primarily caused by excessive rainfall leading to flooding.
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What is the central question that the course "Agron 282, Soil Conservation & Land Use" seeks to answer?
What is the central question that the course "Agron 282, Soil Conservation & Land Use" seeks to answer?
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Study Notes
Iowa's Agricultural Capacity and Land Degradation
- Iowa's population is approximately 3.2 million, with projections remaining roughly the same for the next 30 years.
- Urban/suburban residents account for roughly two-thirds of Iowa's population, concentrated in ten counties.
- A substantial portion of the state, approximately 90%, is farmland, encompassing 33 million acres.
- Iowa boasts approximately 85,000 farms, a number relatively stable compared to a 570 million global average.
- A significant number of farms generate less than $10,000 in revenue, while a smaller percentage (~8-10%) produce over $1 million.
- Iowa has experienced a decline in the number of traditional farms, though some converted to specialized small farms.
- Iowa loses roughly 20,000 acres of prime farmland annually to non-agricultural uses. The USA loses significantly more.
- Iowa has around 6% of the USA's prime farmland.
- Iowa has a comparable poverty rate of 11 to 12%, for urban and rural areas.
Soil Composition and Productivity
- Iowa's soils are primarily Mollisols (60%), highly productive, and Alfisols (25%). The most frequent soil types are Clarion, Fayette, and Galva.
- The inherent soil productivity in Iowa is measured by CSR2, averaging 68.4, with high quality scores approaching 100.
- Iowa's corn and soybean yields in 2018 were 196 and 57 bushels per acre, respectively.
- Soil degradation can translate into reduced plant productivity.
- Soil properties influencing plant growth include; Nutrients, water availability, physical support, protection from pests, gas exchange, symbiotic relationships, and waste disposal.
Historical Land Use and Degradation
- Mesopotamia, the "cradle of agriculture," faced land degradation through erosion and salinization linked to intensive agricultural practices, droughts, and changes in water-use patterns.
- Ancient Greece and Rome experienced similar land degradation from erosion and shifting agricultural practices, affecting their long-term success.
- The Yellow River valley in China demonstrates the lasting impacts of unsustainable land use, including the formation of huge levees to prevent floods but leading to catastrophic flooding in certain places and the gradual filling of the river bed.
Iowa's Potential for Food Production
- Historic crop yield increases have generally been about 1-2 bushels/acre per year.
- Iowa's arable land represents 0.5% of the world's total arable land and could theoretically feed 40 million people.
- With sustained increased agricultural production, Iowa could feed 100 to 150 million people in 2083.
Factors Influencing Future Agricultural Production
- Competing uses of arable land (e.g., development)
- Soil degradation potentially impacting future productivity
- Low/high pricing of agricultural products could affect land use intensity.
- Potential implications of water use for irrigation in relation to production.
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Description
This quiz explores the agricultural landscape and land degradation issues in Iowa. It covers key statistics about farmland, farm revenues, and urbanization impacts on agriculture. Test your knowledge on Iowa's agricultural capacity and challenges faced by the farming community.
