need work done on the docx file to complete and resubmit. The Excel file has the breakdown of marks for each section and instructions(notes) for what should be added or changed. Please follow the inst

Group 6 NAMES: Ayesha Shaikh, Johanna Mues, Samuel okundonor

ASSIGNMENT #4 (Agriculture)

Assign one person as the note-taker as there should only be one submission per group. Make sure that all your names are on the document. Submit your assignment on Brightspace in the Dropbox (under the Assessments tab) before 11:15 using the following format: Group#Assignment4.docx

1. Many problems have been associated with monocultures.

   1. What are monocultures? (2 points)

Ans- monoculture is the agricultural practice of growing the same crop on a given piece of land for a long period of time.

1. 1. Explain two of the problems associated with monocultures. (4 points)

Ans- one problem of monoculture is that the continuous use of a particular pesticide brings about resistance weeds. Another problem of monocultures is that the continuous planting of the same type of crop brings about the continuous depletion of the required nutrients for that plant to grow.

1. What food product has the largest water footprint? Why do you think this is?
   (3 points)

Ans- The food product with the largest water footprint is beef. This is because of the long process required to obtain beef as it grows from a calf to a mature cow and thus requires a lot of water and the food it needs to eat (the water needed to grow the food that it eats).

1. Since the mid-1990s, there has been an increase in large-scale industrialized agriculture, such as ``factory farms`` for the production of meat. Explain two of the problems associated with ``factory farms``. (5 points)

Ans- One problem with factory farms is that the animals are confined and this can have an effect on their health and thus affect the quality of their meat. Another problem with factory farms is that

1. Intensive agriculture is known to contribute to salinization and desertification. Explain what causes one of these processes and how it occurs. (5 points)

Ans- Desertification can be a possible result of the overuse of a certain land. Overgrazing, deforestation, soil erosion and drought rise the risk of desertification. Desertification is measured in the drop in productivity of the soil and there are three categories (moderate, severe, very severe desertification). 

     Climate change may also affect the process of desertification and can accelerate it because it leads to more extreme weather conditions more often.

1. In the video, what practices did the Indonesian rice farmer incorporate to increase productivity and sustainability? (3 points)

Ans- they added fishes to the rice farm so they eat the bacteria in the waterand also sell them and they added the ducks so that they eat the weeds in the field and produce manure for the rice.

1. What advantages are there to growing clover in pastures? (2 points)

Ans- Growing clovers in pastures can help improve nutritional quality of the pasture and reduce the need of fertilizers.

1. The main cause that led to the demise of the Aral Sea was: (1 point)

1. extended periods of drought

2. industrial chemical pollution

3. the diversion of rivers for agriculture

4. unsustainable fishing techniques

Ans- C

1. Give two examples of beneficial insects and the species that they can control. (3 points)

Ans- Ladybugs are one example that can help to reduce aphids because they can eat up to 50-60 every day. Thus ladybugs can be helpful because aphids damage plants. Another example are lacewings. They eat other insects and help reduce the damage to crops ,

1. What are the advantages (to the farmer) of growing Roundup Ready canola? (3 points)

Ans- they are herbicide resistant crops, and they provide excellent weed control options.

1. Explain how repeated use of pesticides creates pesticide resistance pests and why is it problematic in agriculture? (5 points)

Ans- repeatedly using pesticides do kill pests but some survive and become resistant to the chemicals, they then reproduce, passing on their pest resistant genes/traits to the next generation. And every time pesticide is sprayed, it kills but also gives way to the ’stronger’ pest population to survive and reproduce (survival of the fittest). This practice is problematic since after some rounds, the pesticides have no effect on the pests and farmers go through a tough time because they buy these expensive chemicals but still their plants are attacked. This also has an adverse effect on the soil as well as the water quality in the area.

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