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