Land Use and Soil PollutionMorgan Fagan
AgricultureIndustrialized
Uses machines Chemical FertilizersChemical PesticidesFocus on maximum yield
Use of GMOs http://
education-portal.com/academy/lesson/what-is-genetic-engineering-definition-benefits-issues.html#lesson
Monoculture Plantations
AgricultureSustenance
Increased biodiversityNo pesticidesNo chemical additivesNatural fertilizersIntegrated Pest Management
Beneficial insects Mums Crop Rotation
AgricultureTypes
Alley cropping Agroforestry Organic Farming
Agriculture19.5% of U.S land is used for Agriculture
442 million acresGreen Revolution
http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/what-is-the-green-revolution-definition-benefits-and-issues.html#lesson
ForestryEcological Services
Providing wildlife habitatsCarbon sinksAffecting local climate patternsPurifying air and waterReducing soil erosion as they serve as a
watershed, absorbing and releasing controlled amounts of water
Providing energy and nutrient cycling
ForestryTypes
Old growth forestPlantations
Human impactConverting forests for commercial useHabitat fragmentation
ForestryHarvesting Trees
Clear cuttingShelterwood Even aged cuttingUneven aged cuttingSelective cutting
ForestryForests cover about 1/3 of all land surface
world wide80% of all forest are closed canopies20% are open canopy70% of forests are located in North America,
the Russian Federation, and South AmericaThe U.S is the largest area of timbering
(employs 150,000 people and represents a $7 billion per year industry!)
Teddy Roosevelt established the forest services in 1905
Rangeland http://
education-portal.com/academy/lesson/rangelands-uses-and-degradation.html#lesson
Urban Sprawl The movement of people from
rural areas to urban areasReasons for Urbanization
Access to jobsHigher standards of livingEasier access to health careMechanization of agricultureAccess to education
Urban SprawlPros
Uses less landBetter sanitation systemsHigh tax revenuesDecrease reliance on
fossil fuels
Urban SprawlCons
Concentrated source of pollutantsMore waste Increased crime ratesHigher strain on social services
Impacts on SoilErosion
Increased erosion leads to loss of top soil, nutrients, and heavy, toxic elements
Prevented in farming by no till or low till Covered soil does not erode as quicklySediment pollution
Impacts on SoilTree Removal
Increases runoffDecreases ground waterIncreases erosion
Impacts on SoilUrbanized land
Loss of habitatsDecreased amount of ground waterThermal pollutionChemicals from transportation
Impacts on SoilDesertification
Due to overgrazing and over farming usable, fertile land it converted into dry, barren soil
Superfund Sites Sites that contain uncontrolled and/or
abandoned land where hazardous waste is located
State and Local governments are left to clean up the mess