Consequences of Agricultural Practices Flashcards
Overgrazing
excessive use of grazing land by livestock, which can lead to degradation of the land
Try to prevent this by properly managing grazing land, using rotational grazing, fencing, & other land management practices
Can cause/ lead to soil erosion, vegetation loss, & water quality degradation.
Desertification
process by which fertile land becomes desert-like
Caused by: climate change, overpopulation, droughts, overuse, poor land management, deforestation
Try to prevent this by adopting sustainable land management policies
Overfishing
Removal of a species of fish from a body of water at a rate which the species cannot replenish
Pesticides
While they have killed bugs & protected crops, they have harmed wildlife & polluted our waters.
Soil Salinization
Soil becomes too salty & its not able to grow food/plants
To try & address the issue, use better irrigation techniques
Slash & Burn (Shifting Cultivation)
-Clear land by slashing & burning vegetation.
-Grow crops on cleared land for a few years, then abandon it for a new field.
-Deforestation, increased CO2, not sustainable/ useful for large populations
Terraces
Growing crops on the sides of hills/mountains by plantain on man-made steps
Soil erosion, mudslides, require large amount of labor to construct & maintain
Irrigation
-Moving water from 1 place to another that needs water
Water pollution,
-Overpopulation. Can create more stable farms & higher yields (California).
Deforestation
-Removal of trees to make room for agricultural use or settlements
-Higher CO2, destroys ecosystems, less biodiversity
Draining wetlands
Water from a wetland is removed to use the land (either for farmland or a city)
Pollution in waterways, destroys ecosystems, less biodiversity
Pastoral Nomadism
Farmers herd & migrate w/ animals; no permanent pasture
Causes political issues w/ governments who don’t want nomads in their borders. Not sustainable for large populations.
