Sustainable Agriculture & Environmental Conservation Flashcards
6 cards from real Agriculture and Environment practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Sustainable Agriculture & Environmental Conservation flashcards as text
What is the purpose of constructed wetlands in agricultural water management?
Answer: To treat agricultural wastewater and runoff by filtering nutrients and pollutants naturally
Constructed wetlands use natural biological processes to filter and treat agricultural runoff, removing excess nutrients, sediments, and pathogens.
Which practice reduces nitrogen fertilizer loss through volatilization?
Answer: Incorporating fertilizer into soil or applying during cooler weather
Incorporating nitrogen fertilizer into soil or timing applications during cooler, moist conditions reduces ammonia volatilization and improves nutrient use efficiency.
What does the USDA's Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) reward farmers for?
Answer: Actively managing and improving conservation performance on working agricultural lands
CSP rewards farmers who are actively managing and improving conservation activities across their entire operation, not just on set-aside lands.
Which water conservation practice delivers water directly to plant root zones, minimizing evaporation?
Answer: Drip or micro-irrigation
Drip irrigation delivers water directly to root zones through tubes and emitters, reducing evaporation losses by 30-50% compared to sprinkler or flood irrigation.
What is pollinator habitat enhancement and why is it important for US agriculture?
Answer: Planting diverse flowering plants to support bees and other pollinators essential for crop production
Pollinator habitat enhancement provides nesting sites and food sources for bees and other pollinators, which are essential for pollinating over $15 billion worth of US crops annually.
What is a watershed and why is it a key unit for agricultural environmental management in the US?
Answer: All land that drains to a common waterway, making it the natural unit for managing water quality
A watershed encompasses all land draining to a common water body, making it the most logical unit for coordinating agricultural practices that affect water quality downstream.