APES Chapter 9: Industrial and Sustainable Agriculture Practices
Fertilizers
Any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soils or to plant tissues to supply one or more plant nutrients Advantages: Higher yielding varieties of food Disadvantages: Excess or uncontrolled can spoil the soil property and can damage water resources
Flood Irrgation
Delivering water to crops by a ditch, pipe, or other means. Advantages: Effective, limits water wasting, and low cost. Disadvantages: Increases erosion and high energy and labor required.
Agroforestry
Is the intentional integration of trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems to create environmental, economic, and social benefits. Advantages: Increase crop production, conserves soil, and improves soil quality. Disadvantages: Takes a long time to make products, some complex issues can occur, and tress can sometimes shade crops
Sprinkler/Spray Irrigation
Method of applying irrigation water, distributed through a system of pipes usually by pumping. Advantages: Efficient, water saving irrigation, and no special skills required Disadvantages: Higher initial cost, high energy use, wind leads to low effectiveness, and evaporation leads to loss of water
Strip Farming
Planting alternating strips of land with both erosion-resistant and erosion-prone crops in order to mitigate the effects of soil erosion. Advantages: Cheap option to reduce erosion, adds moisture to the soil, and helps water quality. Disadvantages: Not as convenient as a monoculture
Contour Plowing
Practice of plowing or planting across a slope following its elevation contour lines. Advantages: Less erosion and less fuel and labor required. Disadvantages:High soil moisture loss, destroys soil structure, compacts wet soil
Crop Rotation
Rotating crops. Advantages: Preserving fertile soil, enhances the health of the crops, and reduces soil erosion and water runoff. Disadvantages: Lingering fungus and pests, time-consuming, and requires more machinery
Drip Irrigation
Saves water and fertilizer by allowing water to drip slowly. Advantages: Efficiently waters plants b/c of controlled delivery, uses less water, and installation does not require excavation Disadvantages: Requires flush-outs on a monthly basiss
Terracing
Sloped lane that has been cut into a series of successively flat surface or platforms, resembling steps. Advantages: Decreases soil erosion, decreases surface runoff, and efficient use of shallow soil. Disadvantages: Reduces soil quality and requires a lot of labor
Pesticides
Substance used for destroying insects or other organisms harmful Advantages: Saves harvests and can prevent diseases from spreading Disadvantages: Can be dangerous if exposed to humans, creates pollution, and reduces nutrients in the soil
Energy Use
Use of fossil fuels for activities on the farm and to use fuel and feed stock Advantages: Cheaper option and large machine rely on diesel fuel Disadvantages: Pollutes the environment and releases carbon into the environment.
No-Till Agriculture
Way of growing crops or pasture from year to year without disturbing the soil through tillage. Advantages: Prepares seed bed without hurting the soil, prevents runoff, and helps oxygen and water reach the area. Disadvantages: Vulnerable to erosion, slow soil warming on poorly drained soils.
GMOS's
When a gene from one organism is transferred to another to improve or change another organism Advantages: It works and helps developing countries Disadvantages: Expensive and needs a lot of research