Land Use and Soil Flashcards
6 cards from real Environmental Science practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Land Use and Soil flashcards as text
What is urban heat island effect?
Answer: Higher temperatures in urban areas due to impervious surfaces and waste heat
Urban areas are warmer than surrounding rural areas because paved and built surfaces absorb more heat and lack evaporative cooling.
Which conservation tillage practice involves planting directly into previous crop residue without plowing?
Answer: No-till farming
No-till farming leaves crop residue on the surface, reducing erosion, improving soil structure, and sequestering carbon.
What is a brownfield site?
Answer: Abandoned or underused industrial property with potential contamination
Brownfields are abandoned or underutilized industrial or commercial properties where redevelopment is complicated by actual or suspected contamination.
Which farming system integrates trees and shrubs with crops or livestock for ecological and economic benefits?
Answer: Agroforestry
Agroforestry combines trees with crops or livestock, improving soil health, water retention, and carbon sequestration.
What is the primary purpose of the U.S. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)?
Answer: Paying farmers to remove highly erodible land from production
CRP pays farmers annual rental payments to take environmentally sensitive land out of crop production and plant conservation cover.
What is soil erosion's most significant agricultural impact?
Answer: Loss of nutrient-rich topsoil reducing crop productivity
Topsoil loss removes the nutrient-rich upper layer where organic matter and soil organisms concentrate, reducing agricultural productivity.