CPSC 112 Final Exam UIUC Latest Updated Test with all
the questions and answers correct
Furrow Irrigation
Crops in row slightly elevated, sloped "furrows" between rows convey water, over 50%
of the US irrigated farmland, water rights in the arid west
which soil textures have the highest plant available water
clay, sand, sandy loam, loam, clay loam, silty loam
Plant available water
field capacity-permanent wilting point
options for increasing WUE (water use efficiency)
agronomic = yield/amount of water applied
physiological = unit of biomass/unit of water transpired
photosynthetic = unit of C assimilation/unit of water transpired
increase numerator or decrease denominator
3 E's of sustainability
equity (society, people), economy (profit), environment (planet)
properties of agricultural systems with agroecology
productivity, stability, sustainability, and equitability
crop rotation benefits in organic agriculture
replenishment of N, pathogen reduction, soil quality improvements, soil fertility
general idea of 0.4% (or 4 per 1000) French initiative
if we increase soil carbon by 4% per year, then we can halt the annual increase of CO2
in the atmosphere
organic standards
no inorganic fertilizers, no synthetic chemicals (herbicides, pesticides, fungicides - but
some bio based products okay), and no GMOs
benefits of using legumes in organic agriculture
fixes N, helps to control weeds, improve soil structure, erosion control,
sustainable intensification
increasing yields while decreasing environmental impacts
method of calculating yield gaps
yield potential-actual yield obtained by farmers
most important variables influencing energy efficiency and net energy output
water use, water loss, net energy yield = energy output in grain-sum of all energy inputs
options for increasing water productivity in rain-fed systems
1) Increase yields
2) Increase precipitation capture (e.g.
mulching soil surface)
3) Increase soil water storage (e.g.
through increased SOM)
4) Minimize losses (e.g. decrease
runoff/evaporation by increasing
infiltration rates with no-till)
, soil greenhouse gases (GHGs) occurring in agriculture
carbon dioxide (soil respiration, primarily offset by crop CO2 fixation), methane (CH4,
flooded soils (rice) and animal production), and nitrous oxide (N2O, arable soils ,
primarily related to N fertilizer and manure application)
why is N2O such a concern
it often represents over 50% of total CO2 equivalents for corn production, also
somewhat unavoidable because it is produced during nitrification and denitrification
processes (especially when soil N is high), N fertilizer is needed for high yields yet ag is
targeted as possible climate change mitigation opportunity
most influential factors when calculating carbon footprint
Sum of field GHG emissions, CO2 emissions related to inputs and fuel combustion, and
changes in soil C
can be offset with changes in soil C
top 4 rice producing countries in the world
china, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh
Impacts of land leveling
better water management, improved germination/crop establishment, improved weed
control, uniform crop maturity
downside is added cost
What is puddling
a form of wet tillage that controls weeds, manages residues, and creates a hardpan to
prevent water loss
advantages of transplanting vs water seeding
the field is clean and the rice has a major head start because it was grown somewhere
else, more uniform emergence, less wasted seed
challenges of drill seeding (rice)
seed is dry, flash irrigation (flushing) is very difficult, weed management is the primary
issue
harvest tradeoffs: waiting for grain moisture to drop in field vs maintaining
quality (rice)
quality can drop very quickly if left in field, grain can be damaged if left in field due to
humid-dry cycles
if taken out of field, added cost needed of drying the grain
list of typical small grains
wheat, oats, barley, rye
where is wheat primarily grown
in decreasing order: china, india, russia, US
typical range of protein content (wheat)
9%-15% protein
spring wheat vs. winter wheat
spring wheat is planted in spring, winter wheat is planted in fall, winter wheat is
harvested in summer but has survival issues. spring wheat is harvested in fall
dilution effect (wheat)
with increase in protein, yield decreases, and vice versa
advantage of tillers
the questions and answers correct
Furrow Irrigation
Crops in row slightly elevated, sloped "furrows" between rows convey water, over 50%
of the US irrigated farmland, water rights in the arid west
which soil textures have the highest plant available water
clay, sand, sandy loam, loam, clay loam, silty loam
Plant available water
field capacity-permanent wilting point
options for increasing WUE (water use efficiency)
agronomic = yield/amount of water applied
physiological = unit of biomass/unit of water transpired
photosynthetic = unit of C assimilation/unit of water transpired
increase numerator or decrease denominator
3 E's of sustainability
equity (society, people), economy (profit), environment (planet)
properties of agricultural systems with agroecology
productivity, stability, sustainability, and equitability
crop rotation benefits in organic agriculture
replenishment of N, pathogen reduction, soil quality improvements, soil fertility
general idea of 0.4% (or 4 per 1000) French initiative
if we increase soil carbon by 4% per year, then we can halt the annual increase of CO2
in the atmosphere
organic standards
no inorganic fertilizers, no synthetic chemicals (herbicides, pesticides, fungicides - but
some bio based products okay), and no GMOs
benefits of using legumes in organic agriculture
fixes N, helps to control weeds, improve soil structure, erosion control,
sustainable intensification
increasing yields while decreasing environmental impacts
method of calculating yield gaps
yield potential-actual yield obtained by farmers
most important variables influencing energy efficiency and net energy output
water use, water loss, net energy yield = energy output in grain-sum of all energy inputs
options for increasing water productivity in rain-fed systems
1) Increase yields
2) Increase precipitation capture (e.g.
mulching soil surface)
3) Increase soil water storage (e.g.
through increased SOM)
4) Minimize losses (e.g. decrease
runoff/evaporation by increasing
infiltration rates with no-till)
, soil greenhouse gases (GHGs) occurring in agriculture
carbon dioxide (soil respiration, primarily offset by crop CO2 fixation), methane (CH4,
flooded soils (rice) and animal production), and nitrous oxide (N2O, arable soils ,
primarily related to N fertilizer and manure application)
why is N2O such a concern
it often represents over 50% of total CO2 equivalents for corn production, also
somewhat unavoidable because it is produced during nitrification and denitrification
processes (especially when soil N is high), N fertilizer is needed for high yields yet ag is
targeted as possible climate change mitigation opportunity
most influential factors when calculating carbon footprint
Sum of field GHG emissions, CO2 emissions related to inputs and fuel combustion, and
changes in soil C
can be offset with changes in soil C
top 4 rice producing countries in the world
china, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh
Impacts of land leveling
better water management, improved germination/crop establishment, improved weed
control, uniform crop maturity
downside is added cost
What is puddling
a form of wet tillage that controls weeds, manages residues, and creates a hardpan to
prevent water loss
advantages of transplanting vs water seeding
the field is clean and the rice has a major head start because it was grown somewhere
else, more uniform emergence, less wasted seed
challenges of drill seeding (rice)
seed is dry, flash irrigation (flushing) is very difficult, weed management is the primary
issue
harvest tradeoffs: waiting for grain moisture to drop in field vs maintaining
quality (rice)
quality can drop very quickly if left in field, grain can be damaged if left in field due to
humid-dry cycles
if taken out of field, added cost needed of drying the grain
list of typical small grains
wheat, oats, barley, rye
where is wheat primarily grown
in decreasing order: china, india, russia, US
typical range of protein content (wheat)
9%-15% protein
spring wheat vs. winter wheat
spring wheat is planted in spring, winter wheat is planted in fall, winter wheat is
harvested in summer but has survival issues. spring wheat is harvested in fall
dilution effect (wheat)
with increase in protein, yield decreases, and vice versa
advantage of tillers
