EVSC 1080 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Intensive Farming, Aquifer
21 May 2016
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Overpumping of aquifers, increased runoff on land covered with crops buildings and pavement, icreased runoff from cutting forests and fulfilling wetlands, water pollution- could be contaminated. Freshwater shortages will grow due to dry climates, drought, wasteful water use, too many people drawing on the supply of water. [[[ problems with using groundwater: running out, land is subsiding, don"t want to use it faster than it can be replenished, don"t want to contaminate it ]]] 20,000 years before today: climate could not sustain agriculture, hunting and gathering were normal. 12,000 years before today: agriculture began with a variety of foods that were easy to cultivate: grains (wheat, rye), protein (peas and beans) Currently: industrialized agriculture, genetically modified crops and foods (advantages: need less fertilizer, need less water, more resistant to insects disease frost and drought, grow faster, may reduce energy needs. Disadvantages: unpredictable genetic and ecological effects, harmful toxins in food, no increase in yields)
