Ch. 12

control of pest populations by natural predators, parasites, or disease-causing bacteria and viruses

partially decomposed organic plant and animal matter used as a soil conditioner or fertilizer

plowing and planting across the changing slope of land, rather than in straight lines, to help retain water and reduce soil erosion

crop cultivation method in which a planting surface is made by plowing land, breaking up the exposed soil, and then smoothing the surface

planting a field with different crops from year to year to reduce soil nutrient depletion

conversion of rangeland, rain-fed crop land, or irrigated cropland to desert-like land, with a drop in agricultural productivity of 10% or more; usually caused by a combo of overgrazing, soil erosion, prolonged drought, and climate change

organism whose genetic makeup had been altered by genetic engineering

freshly cut or still growing green vegetation that is plowed into the soil to increase the organic matter and humus available to support crop growth

popular term for the introduction of scientifically bred or selected variety of grain that with adequate inputs of fertilizer and water, can greatly increase crop yields

slightly soluble residue of undigested or partially decomposed organic material in topsoil which helps retain water and water soluble nutrients which can be taken up by plant roots

combined use of biological, chemical, and cultivation methods in proper sequence and timing to keep the size of a pest population below the level that causes economically unacceptable loss of crop or livestock animal

cultivation of a single crop, usually on a large area of land

crop cultivation in which the soil is disturbed a little or not at all in an effort to reduce soil erosion, lower labor costs, and save energy

growing crops with limited or no use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers etc

complex form of intercropping in which a large number of different plants maturing at different times are planted together

accumulation of salts in soil that can eventually make the soil unable to support plant growth

planting crops on a long, steep slope that he been converted into series of broad, nearly level terraces with short vertical drops from one to another that runs along the contour of the land to retain water and reduce soil erosion

saturation of soil with irrigation water or excessive precipitation so that the water table rises close to the surface

row of trees or hedges planted to partially block wind flow and reduce soil erosion on cultivated land

growing two or more different crops at the same time on a plot of land

land that can be cultivated to grow crops