This part of the activity will focus on conventional and sustainable practices i

Question

This part of the activity will focus on conventional and sustainable practices in farming. Chapter 10, Section 2 (labeled 10.2), describes some of the key farming techniques that are used to provide adequate moisture and nutrients for crops. One of these methods is irrigation, which accounts for nearly 2/3 of all freshwater used each year. There can be several problems with irrigation, though, including waterlogging and salinization. There is also often heavy energy use in providing the pumping for irrigation as well. In addition, open farmland is subject to erosion from wind or water. Several methods described in Section 10.2—contour plowing, strip farming, terracing, and the use of cover crops, as well as plantings between fields of shrubs or other vegetation—can help to reduce erosion. Instructions Review the Case Study at the beginning of Chapter 10, entitled “Farming in the Cerrado,” and Section 10.2, entitled “How Do We Use, Abuse, and Conserve Soils?” and Section 10.4, entitled “Organic and Sustainable Agriculture.” Deforestation in tropical regions like Brazil is one negative impact of conventional farming practices in industrial agriculture. Consider other negative impacts put forth in the reading and how this information relates to irrigation circles, systems that pivot around a center point as shown in Figure 10.13 in the textbook. Open Google Earth, and in the search box enter Fellsburg, Kansas. Click Search. Zoom out a little and look for circular shapes; these irrigation systems are frequently seen in the corn growing areas of the Midwest. Zoom out until you can see several thousand of the crop circles. What are the indications of the different-colored circles in relation to the use of irrigation?

Explanation / Answer

The different circles represent different crops, or same crop show and irrigated at different times of year and also type of land.  They will vary in color based on time of year, crop, and type of land. The irrigation systems are also called “center pivot irrigation”. In this system of irrigation, crops are watered from equipment which rotates about the centre. So the irrigation is circular, so farmers plant the crops also in circular field. The level of greenery suggests the extent and dura.Some people use crop fields and stomp down areas to form geometric patterns when viewed from above. These are called, ironically, crop circles. The area of filed covered by center pivot irrigation is largely dependent on the length of machine employed.

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