All plants need water to grow
- Irrigation: giving water to plants for crops to grow from rivers, lakes and groundwater (except rain)
- 2/3 fresh water is for irrigation
- For some countries it is hard for irrigation to reach to the destination:
Farmers over-irrigate because of lacking technology to measure and distribute the water well.
- Water saving techniques: drip irrigation/ downward- facing sprinklers
- Waterlogging (excessive use of water): soil is saturated with water & plant’s roots die because of lacking oxygen.
- Salinization: happens when saline water is given through soils in dry climates. As water evaporates, the salt remains and kills the plant. Even though washing down with water, the saline water can go to stream.
- Irrigation problems lead too land degradation and crop losses.
water logging
<http://soer.justice.tas.gov.au/2003/image/410/index.php?action=glossary&value=off>
salinity
<http://www.topnews.in/healthcare/content/21342salinity-increasing-parts-oceans-report>
Quiz: (4pt)
1. Irrigation is giving water to crops from _________ , _____________ and ground water.
2. What are two water saving techniques?
3. What are the effects of irrigation problems?
4. What happens when too much water is given? Why?
Handout: (6pt)
1. Briefly explain what water irrigation is: (2pt)
2. What are the two main problems of irrigation? Define it: (4pt)
Farming consumes energy:
- The farming is highly energy-intensive especially fossil fuels, they supply all the energy.
- The direct energy use on farms rose a gasoline and diesel fuels were consumed by increasing mechanization of agriculture.
- The indirect also increased which are in the form of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and other agricultural chemicals.
- Additional energy is used in food processing, distribution, storage, and cooking.
-The energy of American diet requires five times as much as used directly in farming.
- Most of our food require more energy to produce, process, and get to market than yielding when we eat them.
- Mixing ethanol with gasoline helps reduce air pollution.
- Having new market helps struggling farmers.
- There has been debate about whether corn-based ethanol produces more energy than is required to grow and process the crops.
- British study said: Eating locally grown food has much more less environmental impact.
8. Name four kinds of additional energy used in farm consuming energy.
9. The direct energy use on farms rose a _____and___ ____ (two words) were consumed by increasing mechanization of agriculture.
10. Is is true that if you mix gasoline with ethanol, it helps to reduce the air pollution?
7.How could farmers assist in moving to a renewable energy future?
8.What does fast-growing trees, Kenaf, switch grass, cattails, and other energy crops mainly used for?
9. After crops leave the farm, what happens? Briefly explain.
10. What does many farmers think is the most lucrative crop?
11. When does the direct energy use on farm increase?
wind farm energy
http://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/wind-energy-golan-turnines-photo-1024x768.jpg