Environmental Science 3300F/G Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Ostrich, Aquadvantage Salmon, Tillage
1 Nov 2016
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Identify the sources of synthetic nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers. Mined from rock phosphate chemically treated to yield phosphoric acid. Fossil fuel use for mining and transportation. 1913, the haber-bosch process n2 to nh3 (ammonia: >5(cid:1004)% of the (cid:449)o(cid:396)ld"s food is p(cid:396)odu(cid:272)ed using synthetic nitrogen fertilizer, since 1965, humans create more reactive nitrogen than does nature. Many plants evolved under low nutrient conditions: lost selective advantage, changes in species composition, decreased biodiversity. Haber-bosch process uses energy from fossil fuel. Identify ways that we can help reduce the impacts of agriculture. Not over-using fertilizer: only use what we need = less runoff and environmental effects. Using cover crops: once you harvest your plants, can plant cover crops that will use the remaining nutrients; get rid of them when ready to plant again = less runoff. Buffer strips: as run off goes down towards the river, the larger plants close to the river banks will absorb most of the runoff.
