Ap Human Geography Chapter 1 Summary

As we all understand, the Earth has many landmarks and it is these physical features that create an abundant and organized system within which we thrive. One of the most abundant natural resources on the planet is water and the importance of this element is as crucial as any other. For the fortunate few who get to utilize it, this amazing reserve provides us with our necessity for daily consumption as well as our ability to grow just about anything we please. Common irrigation practices are essential for gathering water into a contained area to grow crops that would not typically survive in areas without heavy rainfall. As a matter of fact, “irrigation is an ancient practice that originated along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in what is now Iraq” and is now the result of an estimated 40 percent of all crops grown around the world (Water Encyclopedia). This tactic has provided many different cultures with numerous varieties of crops as well as growth in crop yield which in turn dramatically advances human civilization. As we develop into a more progressive society, the tools and systems used to grow our crops also become more intelligent as well as sustainable

This essay is a review of the article “Growing More Food with Less Water”, written by Sandra Postel. According the article, our global freshwater sources, including underground aquifers and rivers are stressed beyond their ability to provide freshwater. Agriculture redesign is necessary with the two primary goals being to cut water demands of mainstream agriculture and bring low cost irrigation to poor farmers. Typical irrigation, crop furrow flooding is a main cause of wasted and polluted water. This article discusses alternatives to typical irrigation. These alternatives have been tested onsite by farers and surveyed.

In Stop Water Abuse by the Almond and Pistachio Empire by Wenonah Hauter (Source C), Hauter suggests that restrictions on irrigation should be made in arid areas of California. These dry areas of California

(Hasan and Özay 2002, 73-74). As Albiac (2008) reports, development of pipe network distribution and drip irrigation methods in other countries led the farmers to have remarkable irrigation efficiency in drought (143). Such technologies have already been used in China, but they are not widely spread in China’s agriculture. One investigation in China on rice paddy irrigation systems development was performed and it revealed that using the fry-foot paddy irrigation (when no water flooded the field) instead of flooding irrigation (when the rice field is completely flooded) significantly (40-60%) reduces water consumption (Xiaoping, Qiangsheng and Bin 2004, 351). Furthermore, drip irrigation method was applied in arid Northern China and it raised the water usage efficiency (Du et al 2007). However, introduction of new irrigation technologies faced some difficulties in China. As Hodstedt (2010) noticed in his article, the water saved by these technologies such as drip irrigation systems was simply spent on more food production and, therefore, did not reduce the water shortage. Also, as he reported, this caused two other environmental problems. Firstly, the water, which was the supply for underground water and aquifers as it was lost by deep percolation and leakage, became unavailable after the water-saving technologies were introduced and this strengthened the aquifers depleting along with its overpumping. Secondly, after

As we are all aware, water is essential to life on earth. It is a common need that plants, animals and humans share. In developed countries we are often consumed with items we think we need, such as clothing or new vehicles. In fact, those may not actually be needs, but are considered wants. Water is essential to survival, but somehow people don't have access to it worldwide.

One type of irrigation, drip irrigation, is a method which plants reach water supply. Drip irrigation is the most widely used method of irrigation in Napa Valley. By directly applying water to either the root zone or to the surrounding soil, this method significantly reduces the amount of water used. In addition, growers are able to control the exact amount of water applied to each vine, reduce evaporation, and minimize surface runoff. Although the water goes around root system, it does not go far and as a result, there is an accumulation of salts. Furthermore, most of the water in California comes from mountains which has salt in them and once that area is flushed, the farmer can also flush the soil. If flushing does not occur, then saline and sodic conditions can possibly

One of the biggest advancements in technology due to agriculture is the irrigation system. The

At different times in our lives water can be saved or lost for a variety of reasons.

The agriculture revolution is the changes that occurred in farming and agriculture in Britain. During this time forests where cleared to make

The water doesn't go back to where it came from. In the developing world, farmers crops sometimes don't make it to the consumer. This is a struggle. But simple things like greater access to equipment, such as silos for airtight food storage and crates for delicate fruits and vegetables would help tremendously, WRI

Agriculture: Agriculture is the science of farming. The word Agriculture comes from the Latin word ager meaning field and the Latin word cultura meaning growing. Agriculture also includes the practice of tending animals for food and other goods including wool and other products. Agriculture is very closely tied to farming and cultivation. The practice of agriculture is to use natural resources to maintain life, this includes food, horticultural crops, fiber, forest products.

Water covers 70% of our planet, and it is easy to think that it will always be plentiful. However, freshwater, what we drink, bathe in, irrigate our farm fields with makes up only 3% of the world’s water, and two-thirds of that is stored in frozen glaciers or unavailable for our use. Many of the water systems that keep ecosystems thriving and feed a growing human population have become stressed. Rivers, lakes and aquifers are drying up or becoming too polluted to use. Already, 80 countries suffer from water shortages that threaten health and economies while 40 percent of the world—more than 2 billion people—does not have access to clean water or sanitation

Inefficient irrigation techniques allow most of the water provided to crops to evaporate or to miss crop roots entirely as it seeps underground. Despite the wasteful ways with which we treat water, a quarter of the world’s people face water shortages (Watkins et al. 2006). This proportion will only continue to grow, particularly in the Middle East and Northern Africa (Bureau and Strobl 2012).

One best practice that supports sustainable agriculture is crop rotation. Crop rotation is not new; I remember learning about this in the third grade. Soil needs time to rest, but an open field with exposed soil is not good for the environment. Planting cover crops during this resting period keeps the soil in tact and possible pesticides from running off and causing damage to our waterways. When we explore natural fields and forests, we find a variety of plants. This is not by chance; nature has a way of protecting the environment and embracing diversity. Farmers are realizing agriculture sustainability when they learn from nature and intersperse their crops. Mixing crops provide natural pesticides, protect the soil, and promotes biodiversity. Instead of acres and acres of the same plant, farmers are learning that mixing up the crops can help enrich the soil and positively effects to the environment.

In order to use land for agriculture, one must cut and clear out all natural vegetation in the area. Following the conversion from natural vegetation to agriculture, the top soil is exposed to the elements. Consequently, the topsoil will be washed away by rain or carried out by wind, a process called soil erosion. By definition, soil erosion is a steady process that occurs when water and wind break down and wash away the land, resulting in soil deterioration and ultimately the disappearance of the soil completely. Plants such as coffee, soybean, and cotton have replaced the natural vegetation, but these new plants cannot keep the fertile soil in place. With the major losses of fertile soils, farmers move on and clear more natural vegetation and continue the cycle, or they