USING THE EARTH’S RESOURCES

USING THE EARTH’S RESOURCES AGRISCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office July, 2002

OBJECTIVES • DEFINE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES • EXPLAIN ECOSYSTEMS • EXPLAIN AND GIVE EXAMPLES OF RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES • EXPLAIN AND GIVE EXAMPLES OF NON-RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES

OBJECTIVES CONT. • EXPLAIN POLLUTION AND IDENTIFY SOURCES OF POLLUTION. • DEFINE RECYCLING AND LIST EXAMPLES. • IDENTIFY SOURCES OF POLLUTION IN AGRICULTURE AND NAME RULES TO FOLLOW IN PREVENTING AGRICULTURE POLLUTION.

FACTS TO THINK ABOUT • ONE IN THREE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD DON’T HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO EAT. • 12 MILLION PEOPLE DIE OF STARVATION EACH YEAR. • BY THE YEAR 2030; THE WORLD’S POPULATION WILL DOUBLE AT 10 BILLION PEOPLE.

DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENT • ENVIRONMENT IS ALL OF THE FACTORS THAT EFFECT THE LIFE OF A LIVING THING • IT IS EVERYTHING EXTERNAL TO A PLANT OR ANIMAL.

NATURAL RESOURCES • NATURAL RESOURCES ARE THE NATURALLY OCCURING THINGS THAT SUPPORT LIFE, PROVIDE FUEL OR ARE USED IN OTHER WAYS BY HUMANS. • SOIL, WATER, AIR, MINERALS, PLANTS, AND ANIMALS ARE EXAMPLES.

BIOSPHERE • BIOSPHERE IS THE AREA OF THE EARTH THAT SUPPORTS LIFE • EXTENDS ONLY A FEW FEET ABOVE THE EARTH AND INTO THE OCEANS, DEPENDING ON THE KIND OF LIFE.

HABITAT • HABITAT IS A PLACE A PLANT OR ANIMAL LIVES UNDER NATURAL CONDITIONS. • EXAMPLE : ZOO’S MAY HAVE TO CREATE A HABITAT FOR A SPECIFIC ANIMAL.

ECOSYSTEM • ECOSYSTEM IS ALL OF THE PARTS OF A PARTICULAR ENVIRONMENT • SOME PARTS ARE LIVING (BIOTIC FACTORS) • SOME PARTS ARE NONLIVING (ABIOTIC FACTORS)

EXAMPLES OF BIOTIC FACTORS • PLANTS • ANIMALS • OTHER LIVING THINGS • SOME HAVE A SYMBIOSIS RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER • SOME DO NOT RELATE WELL WITH EACH OTHER ( WOLVES AND SHEEP)

EXAMPLES OF ABIOTIC FACTORS • WATER • TEMPERATURE • SUNLIGHT • SOIL CHARACTERISTICS • LAY OF THE LAND • THEY DETERMINE WHICH PLANTS AND ANIMALS CAN LIVE IN AN ECOSYSTEM

IDEAL ECOSYSTEM WITHIN A STREAM PASSING THROUGH A MEADOW • WATER FREE OF POLLUTION • FISH AND OTHER LIFE IN THE WATER • FERTILE SOIL SURROUNDING THE STREAM • PLANTS GROWING ON THE SURROUNDING LAND • INSECTS IN THE PLANTS • BIRDS IN THE AIR ABOVE

EXAMPLE OF A NICHE • NICHE IS A WAY A PLANT AND ANIMAL HAS ITS OWN SPECIAL WAY OF LIVING • A BEAVER IS AN EXAMPLE • A VENUS FLY TRAP IS A PLANT EXAMPLE

FOOD CHAIN • FOOD CHAIN IS THE SEQUENCE IN WHICH ALL LIVING THINGS IN AN ECOSYSTEM GET THEIR FOOD • ALSO MAY BE REFERRED TO AS THE CYCLE OF NATURE

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE • IS USED TO DESCRIBE ALL OF THE THINGS DONE IN AGRISCIENCE TO MAINTAIN THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE FOOD, FIBER AND SHELTER

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE INVOLVES: • PROTECTING THE SOIL, AIR, AND WATER • MAINTAINING WILDLIFE HABITAT • USING PESTICIDES AND FERTILIZERS WISELY • DISPOSING OF WASTES PROPERLY

RENEWABLE SOIL WATER WILDLIFE/ FISH FOREST AIR NON-RENEWABLE COAL PETROLEUM NATURAL GAS MINERALS NATURAL RESOURCES

WAYS TO RENEW SOIL • USE SOIL CONSERVATION MEASURES TO KEEP THE SOIL IN PLACE • SOIL TEST AND MAINTAIN SOIL FERTILITY

WAYS TO RENEW/CONSERVE WATER • DON’T WASTE WATER • FARM PONDS • TERRACES • CROP RESIDUE • TREAT WASTE WATER AND RE-USE

WAYS OF RENEWING WILDLIFE/FISH • RESTOCKING OF FISH • EXTEND OR LIMIT TIME OF HUNTING SEASON • RELOCATION OF CERTAIN SPECIES OF ANIMALS

WAYS TO RENEW FOREST • REPLACE TREES BY PLANTING: CLEARCUT AREA • HARVEST TREES BY A DIAMETER LIMIT (18” DBH) • COMMERCIAL FOREST OWNED BY GEORGIA-PACIFIC AND WEYERHAUSER MANAGE LARGE TRACTS OF LAND FOR TIMBER.

INCREASING AIR QUALITY • REDUCE EMISSIONS (WASTES INTO THE AIR) COMING FROM FACTORIES AND CARS, AND EQUIPMENT • DO NOT TRY TO BURN BATTERIES (CAINTAINS CADMIUM-HEAVY METAL) • CONTROLLING SMOKE

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION • ALL THE WAYS THAT PEOPLE CONTAMINATE THEIR ENVIRONMENT • HUMANS CAUSE MOST POLLUTION • SOURCES INCLUDE: TOXIC PRODUCTS, SOIL LOSS, WASTE PRODUCTS, DISCHARGED WATER, JUNK AND LITTER

TOXICOLOGY • STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF POISONS ON LIVING THINGS • EFFECTS OF TOXINS ARE ACUTE (SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE) AND CHRONIC (LONG-TERM EXPOSURE)

MAJOR SOURCES OF TOXINS • EXHAUST FROM ENGINES • BURNING MATERIALS • AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS

SOIL LOSS • WIND EROSION • WATER EROSION • SOIL PARTICLES GET INTO THE AIR, STREAMS, LAKES AND CAUSE POLLUTION

WASTES PRODUCTS • GARBAGE FROM HOMES/RESTAURANTS • LEFT-OVER MATERIALS AT FACTORIES • CROP REMAINS AND LIVESTOCK WASTES ON FARMS • 1300 LBS. OF WASTE/PERSON/YEAR

DISCHARGED WATER • EFFLUENTS - DISCHARGED WATER AFTER IT HAS BEEN USED IN A FACTORY OR PROCESS OF SOME TYPE. • SUBSTANCES- WASTE BLOOD FROM MEAT PROCESSING PLANT • TEMPERATURE- POWER PLANT RELEASING WATER INTO STREAMS

EFFLUENTS CAUSING POLLUTION • AMOUNT - RELEASING TOO MUCH WATER INTO STREAMS : OTHER METHODS OF DISPOSAL MAY BE NEEDED • HUMAN WASTES - SOME SMALL TOWNS OR OLDER RESIDENTS MAY NOT HAVE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS OR SEPTIC SYSTEMS

METHODS OF WASTE DISPOSAL • LANDFILLS : 80 % OF THE WASTE IN US IS DISPOSED IN LANDFILLS • INCINERATION : 9% OF THE WASTE ARE INCINERATED • RECYCYLING : COMMON ITEMS INCLUDE PAPER, ALUMINUM,TIN CANS AND GLASS.

SOURCES OF AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION • INTRODUCING PESTS: BROUGHT INTO U.S. ON SEED, PLANTS, FRUIT OR OTHER PRODUCTS • EXOTIC PLANTS OR ANIMALS : RELEASE OF PLANTS OR ANIMALS MAY DAMAGE EXISTING PLANTS/ANIMALS • CHEMICALS: IMPROPER USE OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS

SOURCES OF AG POLLUTION • WASTE WATER : EXCESS WATER FROM IRRIGATION, FISH PONDS, FOOD PROCESSING PLANTS. • PROCESSING WASTES : CHICKEN FEATHERS, INTERNAL PARTS OF ANIMALS, VEGETABLES, SAWDUST, AND TREE BARK. • NEW LIFE FORMS : NON-NATURAL FORMS OF PLANTS/ANIMALS

STEPS TO PREVENT POLLUTION • KNOW REGULATIONS • FOLLOW RULES • USE PROPER STORAGE • WASTE CONTROL • USE CHEMICALS PROPERLY • DISPOSE OF CONTAINERS PROPERLY • USE SAFETY

USING THE EARTH’S RESOURCES