EVR CH 7
If the farmers hope to reduce total infiltration rates to less than 400 seconds, which of the following strategies could help them reach their goal, based on these data? Select all that apply. -No-till corn with cover crop -No-till corn, no cover crop -Corn silage with cover crop and fall tillage -Corn silage, no cover crop with fall tillage -Corn stover removal with intense fall and spring tillage
-No-till corn with cover crop -No-till corn, no cover crop -Corn silage with cover crop and fall tillage
In 2013, roughly what percentage of the human population failed to secure adequate food calories on a daily basis and was therefore classified as "undernourished"? -1% -4% -12% -18% -25%
12%
On average, how far do agricultural products travel from farm to plate in the United States? -100 miles -400 miles -800 miles -1100 miles -1400 miles
1400 miles
It has been estimated that confined animal feeding operations contribute to about _____ of world carbon dioxide emissions. -5% -15% -25% -35% -45%
15%
Using the most reliable information available, how much of the Earth's land surface is used for agriculture today? -10%, according to government surveys of land use -30 to 40%, according to satellite imagery -70%, according to surveys conducted by commercial jets -90%, according to tax records from government agencies
30 to 40%, according to satellite imagery
A farmer in South Dakota plans to switch from corn silage with no cover crop and fall tillage to no-till corn with cover crop. Based on the outcomes in this study, by how many seconds might the farmer expect to eventually improve the total water infiltration time within the upper 2.28" of soil on his or her cropland? -52 seconds -68 seconds -244 seconds -312 seconds
312 seconds
What percentage more nitrogen would be saved annually by using reduced tillage rather than conventional tillage? -50% -37% -63% -2.7%
37%
Given that annual crop yields in each of the study plots were approximately 4 metric tons/ha, what is the ratio of soil lost to crop yield under conventional tillage? -64,000 kg soil/1 ton crop yield -16,000 kg soil/4 tons crop yield -4,000 kg soil/1 ton crop yield -4,000 tons crop yield/1 kg soil
4,000 kg soil/1 ton crop yield
Approximately how much more soil was lost using conventional tillage rather than reduced tillage? -50 kg/ha -160 kg/ha -16,000 kg/ha -5,000 kg/ha
5,000 kg/ha
Today, it takes about ______ Calories of energy to produce about 1 Calorie of food. -2 -20 -55 -90 -125
55
How much more organic carbon would be saved annually by using reduced tillage? -7,000 g/ha -120 kg/ha -70 kg/ha -12,000 g/ha
70 kg/ha
Globally, approximately how many people are undernourished? -1 million -800 million -1 billion -800 thousand -1 trillion
800 million
Roughly ________% of the food we consume comes from ________ crop species. -50; 50 -90; 100 -90; 15 -10; 100 -50; 20
90; 15
You are a genetic engineer for Monsanto. You wish to develop a variety of wheat that has an immune system like humans. Which of the following do you create? -A variety that only attacks specific pathogens. -A variety that has a good general immune response. -A variety that has a good general immune response and also attacks specific pathogens. -A variety with limited immune response.
A variety that has a good general immune response and also attacks specific pathogens
If this research proves correct, in the future crops could be given a probiotic to do what in order to use phosphate more effectively? -Deactivate PHR1 and activate PHL1 -Activate PHR1 and PHL1 -Deactivate PHR1 and PHL1 -Activate PHR1 and deactivate PHL1
Activate PHR1 and PHL1
Despite increased agricultural production by developed countries about 100 years ago, less developed countries continued to use traditional agricultural practices. Then, in the 1960s, the research of Dr. Norman Borlaug increased crop production by nearly 500% in Mexico and India by using __________. -high yielding crops -disease resistant crops -modern farm equipment -All of the above responses are correct.
All of the above responses are correct.
You are an Iowa farmer interested in suppressive soils to improve yields. Which of the following is likely best for such yield improvement? -Fewer than 10 species of microbes in your soil. -No microbes in your soil. -An ecological wealth of microbes in your soil. -From 10 to 20 species of microbes in your soil.
An ecological wealth of microbes in your soil.
You visit a farm that practices regenerative farming. Which of the following does the farmer do? -Annual grazing in each pasture. -Continuous livestock grazing in every pasture. -No livestock grazing. -Monthly grazing in each pasture
Annual grazing in each pasture
What is the soil order in areas of North America that is most commonly associated with the deserts and xeric shrublands biome? -Mollisols -Aridisols -Histosols -Alfisols -Ultisols
Aridisols
Which of the following is true? -It is unknown as to if the amount of carbon in the soil affects the amount of fertilizer needed. -As carbon increases in the soil, more fertilizer is needed. -The amount of carbon in the soil does not affect the amount of fertilizer needed. -As carbon increases in the soil, less fertilizer is needed.
As carbon increases in the soil, less fertilizer is needed.
You study corn and find it shows the same response as Arabidopsis plants. Which of the following did you observe? -As less phosphate is available, corn shows a decreased immune response. -Phosphate availability has an unknown link to immune response. -As less phosphate is available, corn shows an increased immune response. -Phosphate availability is not tied to the immune response.
As less phosphate is available, corn shows a decreased immune response.
Just as soils are the foundation for vegetation, vegetation can also influence the characteristics of soils. Which of the following biomes in North America is most often associated with Spodosols? -Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub -Boreal forests/taiga -Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands -Mangroves -Deserts and xeric shrublands
Boreal forests/taiga
Assuming emissions remain the same, as regenerative farming becomes more popular, which of the following will occur? -It is unknown how the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will be impacted. -Concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will stay the same. -Concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will decrease. -Concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will increase.
Concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will decrease.
Steven Herman describes the results of grazing on public lands as a "landscape holocaust." Which of the following conditions does he attribute to grazing? -Increased bank-side vegetation -Higher water tables -Desertification of formerly productive ecosystems -Shrubland being replaced by native grasses
Desertification of formerly productive ecosystems
Both authors discuss potential development of private Western lands adjacent to public land. Knight argues that public grazing prevents subdivision. Herman would -Agree. Land in the West is not ideally suited for grazing, so we should sacrifice our public lands instead of pushing private ranchers out of business. -Disagree. Subdivision will happen regardless of whether we allow public lands grazing. As the value of private land increases, it will be sold. -Agree. Subdivision and sprawling ranchettes degrade wildlife habitat. -Disagree. Public grazing promotes subdivision because ranchers can then subdivide their own land and keep grazing on public land.
Disagree. Subdivision will happen regardless of whether we allow public lands grazing. As the value of private land increases, it will be sold.
Which statement about food production since 1960 is true? -During this time 90% of the world's population has been overnourished. -During this time our population has grown faster than our food production capabilities. -During this time our food production has grown even faster than our population. -During this time our food production capabilities have been severely limited, causing the population of many countries to decline rapidly.
During this time our food production has grown even faster than our population
According to this research, which of the following is true for Arabidopsis plants? -No phosphate stress response exists. -The phosphate stress response only occurs in phosphate poor soils. -The phosphate stress response only occurs in phosphate rich soils. -Even in a phosphate-rich environment, microbes can entice plants to turn on the phosphate stress response.
Even in a phosphate-rich environment, microbes can entice plants to turn on the phosphate stress response.
The way it is currently used, phosphate is a component of which of the following? -Seeds -Fertilizers -Pesticides -Irrigation water
Fertilizers
_________________ is any process whereby scientists directly manipulate an organism's genetic material in the laboratory by adding, deleting, or changing segments of its DNA. -Organic agriculture -Transgenetic engineering. -Polymerase chain reaction. -Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering
Which of the following revolutions came about as a response to our dramatically rising human population numbers? -Industrial revolution -Green Revolution -Agricultural revolution -Environmental revolution
Green Revolution
Which of the following was a positive environmental aspect of the Flavr Savr tomato? -It has a better taste. -It is available at a lower cost to the consumer. -It is grown using less chemicals because it is less likely to rot. -It could be shipped further. -It has a better appearance.
It is grown using less chemicals because it is less likely to rot.
Predict how the results of this experiment might vary if repeated in a less mountainous region with lower annual rainfall. -A greater percentage difference in soil loss between conventional and reduced tillage -Lower soil loss for both conventional and reduced tillage treatments -Lower soil loss for conventional tillage but high soil loss for reduced tillage -Higher soil loss for both conventional and reduced tillage treatments
Lower soil loss for both conventional and reduced tillage treatments
What agricultural practice dominates areas characterized by Oxisols? -Grain -Livestock Ranching -Mediterranean -Shifting cultivation -Dairy
Shifting cultivation
Which of the following people would be least likely to support an increase in regenerative farming? -An organic farmer in the U.S. -A member of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization -A climate change strategist for the Environmental Protection Agency. -The CEO of a pesticide company.
The CEO of a pesticide company.
Which of the following statements is true about the diversity of our crops today? -Because of industrial agriculture, the diversity of our crops has increased dramatically compared to crops in the past. -The Green Revolution has led to a decrease in the diversity of our crops. -The diversity of our crops has increased with the invention of seed banks. -Because of genetic engineering, the diversity of our crops has increased dramatically compared to crops in the past.
The Green Revolution has led to a decrease in the diversity of our crops.
Your friend plants Roundup Ready seeds in her garden and several months later notices that her garden is overrun with weeds. She calls the seed company to complain. How should the customer service agent respond? -The customer service agent should point out that Roundup Ready crops are no longer legal and should advise your friend that any crops she is growing need to be destroyed and not eaten because they are contaminated. -The customer service agent should point out that the Roundup Ready plants would survive being sprayed with Roundup. Your friend never used Roundup on her garden, so the weeds overran her garden. -The customer service agent should apologize, because the seeds were already treated with Roundup, which should have controlled the weeds. -The customer service agent should put your friend on hold indefinitely. -The customer service agent should point out that the kind of weeds in her garden must already be resistant to the effects of the Roundup that was in the seeds
The customer service agent should point out that the Roundup Ready plants would survive being sprayed with Roundup. Your friend never used Roundup on her garden, so the weeds overran her garden.
You work for agrochemical company DuPont and are working to develop a chemical to decrease take-all root rot in wheat. Which of the following appears to be most likely to help in your work? -The development of a drug that kills Pseudomonas. -The development of a drug that minimizes the effects of Pseudomonas. -The development of a drug that wards of but does not kill Pseudomonas. -The development of a drug that emulates Pseudomonas.
The development of a drug that emulates Pseudomonas
Richard Knight describes the public and private land in the West. Which statement represents one aspect of this landscape? -If ranching operations fail, private ranch lands will revert to federal government ownership. -Only a tiny percentage of private lands adjacent to public land are ranch lands. -The families that hold Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service grazing permits also own more than 100 million acres of private land. -The private lands in the West have shallower soils and less water than nearby public land.
The families that hold Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service grazing permits also own more than 100 million acres of private land.
Which of the following can be inferred from the figure? -Grain is a renewable resource. -The same grain used to feed chickens and cows could be fed to many humans instead. -Cows are a keystone species. -The production of beef and pork is resource-intensive. -We cannot survive without eating the foods pictured.
The production of beef and pork is resource-intensive
Which of the following contributed to the Dust Bowl of the 1930s? -Massive industrial agriculture operations disturbed the soil with large, petroleum-powered equipment. -Deforestation of native forests in order to plant crops. -The removal of native prairie plants. -The use of GM crops
The removal of native prairie plants
You wish to study the symbiotic relationship between certain bacteria and plants related to phosphate availability. Which of the following would be best for you to study? -The leaf/air interface -The shoot/air interface -The shoot/soil interface -The soil/root interface
The soil/root interface
Your aunt wishes to try mustard and canola seed meal on her pear orchard. If the results are similar to what occurs in an apple orchard, which of the following will happen? -There will be less disease in her trees. -Her trees will die. -There will be more disease in her trees. -There will be no change in the amount of disease in her trees.
There will be less disease in her trees.
You are a gardener and your tomatoes are attacked by fungal blight. Assuming they are otherwise healthy, what is your plants' response? -The leaves with active blight will drop so the plants can survive. -They will release chemicals to attract microbial help. -They will go dormant until the blight passes. -They will succumb in a matter of days.
They will release chemicals to attract microbial help.
What is the dominant soil order in areas of North America with average annual precipitation ranging from 60 to 79 inches? -Mollisols -Ultisols -Aridisols -Gelisols -Entisols
Ultisols
Which of the following demonstrates the use of a closed-loop system at Kennesaw State University (KSU)? -All of the energy that is used at KSU is generated on campus using food waste and other forms of biofuel. -Uneaten food waste is fed into an aerobic digestion system, which generates a nutrient-rich liquid that is applied to the soil to grow more food. -KSU is in effect a completely sustainable city, cut off from the rest of the world. -KSU has a complete water reclamation system and is completely cut off from Kennesaw's city water supply.
Uneaten food waste is fed into an aerobic digestion system, which generates a nutrient-rich liquid that is applied to the soil to grow more food.
If you were on a federal agency panel that re-issued grazing permits only on the basis of ecosystem function, which of the following criteria would you use? -The grazing price fees in comparison to the salaries of public employees who monitor the land -The number of ranch hands per herd that monitor and track the cattle -The economic likelihood of subdivision on adjacent private lands -Watershed measures such as percent change in bank-side vegetation and % native grass cover versus shrub cover
Watershed measures such as percent change in bank-side vegetation and % native grass cover versus shrub cover
In North America, which agricultural region (anthropogenic biome) is most closely associated with areas of stable terrain? -Remote rangelands -Remote croplands -Residential rangelands -Wildlands -Populated croplands
Wildlands
All of the following factors are thought to contribute to colony collapse disorder EXCEPT: -parasites and pathogens. -the use of Roundup to kill weeds. -abnormally harsh winters. -loss of habitat such as prairie. -the use of insecticides
abnormally harsh winters
Cognito Farm avoids washing chicken carcasses with __________, which is done at many packing plants in the United States. -bleach -calcium carbonate -acetic acid -salt water -hydrochloric acid
bleach
How does KSU provide the plants on its farms with nutrients in a sustainable manner? -by using highly efficient pesticides -by buying organic fertilizer from a local organic market -by using more efficient fertilizers -by recycling organic materials from food scraps to be used as compost
by recycling organic materials from food scraps to be used as compost
What is used at Cognito Farm to control fly larvae in the pasture? -chemical pesticides -all natural organic pesticides -chickens -ultraviolet radiation -insect traps
chickens
Managing crop competitors and pests has been challenging to agronomists for centuries. One approach, integrated pest management, ________. -combines synthetic chemical pesticides with biocontrol techniques -combines a variety of pesticides to combat the pest -uses only natural pesticides -uses no pesticides of any kind -uses only synthetic chemical pesticides
combines synthetic chemical pesticides with biocontrol techniques
Which process not only controls erosion, but can also help to replenish soil nutrients? -drip irrigation -crop rotation -contour farming -shelterbelts
crop rotation
Place the following list of steps into the correct sequence for creating a genetically modified organism. a) The gene is transferred to the target organism. b) The bacteria containing the recombinant DNA are allowed to reproduce. c) The gene of interest is inserted into a plasmid. d) A plasmid is isolated from a strain of bacteria. e) The plasmid containing the recombinant DNA is inserted into bacteria. f) The gene of interest is isolated from the cell of an organism. -decfab -abcdfe -fdabce -dfceba -fdcdab
dfceba
The average consumer can reduce his or her ecological footprint the most by ________. -eating less meat and dairy products -eating mainly foods that are shipped in large, bulk shipments -eating more meat and less grains -drinking bottled water that is high in mineral content -eating more locally grown foods
eating less meat and dairy products
Which of the following are farms that concentrate on raising large numbers of animals of all the same type in a small area? -traditional farms -feedlots -biotechnology farms -rangeland farming
feedlots
Since 1960, pesticide use has increased ________ worldwide. -twofold -threefold -fourfold -sixfold -fivefold
fourfold
Industrial agriculture ________. -was replaced by more modern farming practices during the Green Revolution -has increased our ability to obtain more food from the same area -has rapidly deteriorated soils, requiring continuous conversion of new areas to cropland -has permanently improved soils, providing more food from less space -has had no impact on society
has increased our ability to obtain more food from the same area
Which of the following resources is not produced on the KSU campus? -eggs -heads of cattle for beef -vegetables -honey from bees
heads of cattle for beef
When decomposers break down organic molecules, a dark crumbly organic material called __________ that improves soil quality is formed. -humus -silt -guacamole -topsoil
humus
As the global human population continues to rise, increased food production will most likely come from __________. -other planets -increases in the amount of land used for agricultural production -decreased demand for food -increased productivity of the land already used for agriculture
increased productivity of the land already used for agriculture
In regard to energy efficiency, aquaculture is __________. -approximately the same efficiency as harvesting fish from open waters -approximately the same efficiency as harvesting bycatch -incredibly energy-inefficient compared to harvesting fish from open waters -incredibly energy-efficient compared to harvesting fish from open waters
incredibly energy-efficient compared to harvesting fish from open waters
The practice of integrating biocontrol, crop rotation, alternative tillage methods, and chemical use is called __________. -integrated technological management -integrated biocontrol management -coordinated biological and chemical control -integrated pest management
integrated pest management
Monoculture ________. -describes diets low in protein, such as vegetarianism -is an agricultural practice that uses no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides -is the agricultural practice of growing large stands of a single species -farming is illegal in most countries -describes food that has not been genetically modified
is the agricultural practice of growing large stands of a single species
Compare data from 2004 and 2017. Which of the following farming practices increased in use on South Dakota cropland between 2004 and 2017? Select all that apply. -reduced tillage -no-till -mulch tillage -conventional tillage
no-till
When does Cognito Farm use antibiotics on its cattle? -Weekly to prevent illness. -Only when they are sick. -Daily to prevent illness. -Monthly to prevent illness. -Never
only when they are sick
The Flavr Savr tomato is no longer marketed because ________. -Calgene failed to attain government approval to market it -people were nervous about eating genetically modified tomatoes -they require too much water to grow -genetically modified crops presently are not approved for sale in the United States -butterfly larvae that ate the tomato plants were poisoned
people were nervous about eating genetically modified tomatoes
It is more energetically efficient for us to eat more ________. -GM foods -carnivorous animals like fish and alligator -foods grown using IPM methods -plant-based foods -herbivorous animals like cattle and chicken
plant-based foods
The main obstacle for consumers to organic foods is ________. -availability -price -fear -safety -ignorance
price
The O horizon is ________. -primarily composed of organic materials -composed of equal amounts of bedrock and organic material -usually more sand than silt or clay -primarily loam -composed primarily of bedrock
primarily composed of organic materials
Which of the following can be caused by irrigation of cropland? -salinization -terracing -recombination of genes -erosion of bedrock
salinization
Which of the following is a living museum of genetic crop diversity? -biogenetic banks -the Field Museum of Natural History -biodiversity museums -seed banks
seed banks
We lose 5 to 7 million hectares of productive cropland per year to ________. -forest replanting and regeneration -soil conservation efforts -abandonment, feralization, and other factors -soil degradation -recreational land use
soil degradation
Overirrigation can result in ________. -crop rotation -leaching -erosion -higher numbers of agricultural pests -soil salinization and waterlogging
soil sanitization and waterlogging
__________ comprises half of the word's genetically modified crops. -soybeans -coffee -corn -canola
soybeans
The Conservation Reserve Program pays farmers to ________. -grow native crops such as corn and beans -grow cattle feed instead of commercial crops -grow soybeans and other kinds of harvestable groundcover -stop cultivating highly erodible land -stop growing tobacco
stop cultivating highly erodible land
Organic agriculture implies farming techniques that use NO __________. -water -fertilizers -synthetic fertilizers, insecticides, or herbicides -soil
synthetic fertilizers, insecticides, or herbicides
About 100 years ago, agricultural production in the United States tripled due to __________. -a tremendous increase in the amount of land used for agriculture -the invention of fertilizers and use of more modern machinery -the shift from raising crops on land to raising crops in water -the shift from wheat and corn crops to rice crops
the invention of fertilizers and use of more modern machinery
Knight describes three "inescapable truths" about today's West. He implies that _______. -public land is ecologically rich and therefore better grazing land for cattle -converting private land to ranchettes would benefit our economy -the public ultimately benefits because ecologically rich private lands are kept open if ranchers can use public land for grazing -ranchers tend to be developers at heart, ready to subdivide their land if possible
the public ultimately benefits because ecologically rich private lands are kept open if ranchers can use public land for grazing
You are a landowner interested in regenerative farming. Which of the following should you avoid? -Leaving crop residue on the soil surface. -Planting cover crops. -Tilling. -Increasing tree cover near your fields.
tilling
Factors involved in soil formation include ________. -erosion, level terrain, and the absence of rooted vegetation -tropical climate, acid precipitation, and frequent wildfires -nitrogen-fixing bacteria and grazing by herbivores -weathering of parent material and the addition of organic material -seasonal changes in the tides
weathering of parent material and the addition of organic material