Types of Agriculture Flashcards
Strip cutting
Maintains biodiversity better than clear cutting.
However it leads to soil erosion and water runoff
Shelterwood
Thins out the forest, allowing younger, sun-loving trees to grow.
Limits soil erosion while maximizing yield.
Selective cutting
Removing only mature trees individually or in small groups.
Best type of logging
Forest fires
Clears old biomass and promotes new plant growth.
Monocropping
Pros:
- High efficiency
- High yield
- Ease of management
Cons:
- Low biodiversity
- Low soil nutrients
- High erosion
- High pest problems
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)
Pros:
- Increase food nutrition
- Create disease resistant crops
- Reduce food costs
Cons:
- High cost for lab research
- May lead to selective breeding of stronger diseases or pests
- unanticipated long term effects on ecosystems
Slash and burn
Pros:
- quickly clears dense vegetation
Cons:
- Deforestation
- High erosion
- Low biodiversity
- High CO2
Tilling
Pros:
- Breaks up compacted soil
- Brings moisture and nutrients to the surface
Cons:
- Reduces moisture retaining abilities
- Alters natural soil structure
No-till agriculture
Pros:
- Last years leftovers benefits are still there
- Less CO2 from soil
- Improved soil health
- better water quality
- better water holding capacity
Contour plowing
Follow topographic contours of the land
Pros:
- Reduces erosion
- Controls runoff
Terrracing
Carving steps into the slope. Soil eroded from the tops flows down to next terrace
Windbreaks
Protects field from top soil erosion from wind.
Perennial plants
Reduces the amount of tilling, plowing, and planting.
Strip cropping (intercropping)
Planting alternating strips of different crops.
Pros:
- Improves water infiltration
- attracts pollinators
