5.15 - Sustainable Agriculture

No till agriculture DOES NOT

• Decrease soil erosion

• Disrupt pest eggs and larvae

• Increase soil nutrient levels

• Leave behind crop remains after harvest

Agroforestry reduces erosion by

• Providing habitats for natural pest predators

• Providing fruit and firewood as a provisioning ecosystem service to farmers

• Stabilizing soil with the tree root structure

• Providing windbreaks that reduce wind speed and therefore soil erosion

What is the primary benefit of perennial plants?

• increased crop yields

• decreased pesticide use

• increased nitrogen fixation

• decreased erosion

Which of the following describes how intercropping alters the ecology of a farm?

I. Intercropping increases diversity

II. Intercropping promotes plant mutualisms

III. Relative to monocropping,  intercropping increases the prevalence of insect infestations among crops

• I Only

• III Only

• III Only

• I and III

• I and II