Term
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Definition
| the mixture of disintegrated rock, organic matter, water, gases, nutrients, and microorganisms that support plant growth |
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Term
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Definition
| the base geological material in a particular location |
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Term
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Definition
| the mass of solid rock that makes up Earth's crust |
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Term
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Definition
| the physical and chemical processes that break down rocks and minerals into smaller particles |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| a cross-section of all the soil horizons in a specific soil, from surface to bedrock, in a specific area |
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Term
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Definition
| soil particles that are less than 0.002mm in diameter |
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Term
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Definition
| soil particles that are 0.002 to 0.05 mm in diameter |
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Term
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Definition
| soil particles that are 0.05 to 2 mm in diameter |
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Term
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Definition
| soil that is approximately equal parts clay, slit, and sand |
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Term
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Definition
| the deterioration of those characteristics of soil needed for plant growth or other ecosystem services |
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Term
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Definition
| a soil conservation method in which two or more crops are planted in one field |
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Term
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Definition
| a soil conservation method in which the type of crop grown in a field is alternated from one season or year to the next |
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Term
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Definition
| a fast-growing crop that is planted in the interval between harvest and the next |
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Term
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Definition
| one or more rows of trees or other tall, perennial plants planted along the edge of a field to prevent wind erosion |
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Term
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Definition
| the turning-over of soil before planting |
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Term
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Definition
| a soil conservation method in which sloped land is transformed into a series of steps to prevent soil erosion |
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Term
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Definition
| a soil conservation method in which furrows are plowed across a hillside, perpendicular |
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Term
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Definition
| allowing animals to eat so much of the plant cover in a field or pasture that the plants cannot regrow |
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Term
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Definition
| a loss of more than 10 percent in the productivity of soil due to erosion, deforestation, overgrazing, drought, or other factors |
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Term
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Definition
| using a source other than precipitation to water crops |
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Term
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Definition
| the buildup of salts in the surface layers of soil |
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Term
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Definition
| a chemical used to kill organisms that attack or compete with plants that humans value |
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Term
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Definition
| a type of farming that relies on human and animal power, along with hand tools and non-motorized machines |
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Term
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Definition
| the amount of a crop produced in a given area |
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Term
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Definition
| a type of farming that relies on technology and chemicals to increase yields and reduce costs |
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Term
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Definition
| the introduction of new technologies, crop varieties, and farming practices to the developing world in the third quarter of the twentieth century |
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Term
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Definition
| the use of organisms to battle pests and weeds |
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Term
| integrated pest management (IPM) |
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Definition
| the use of both biological and chemical methods to control pests safely and economically |
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Term
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Definition
| an insect or other animal that transfers pollen from one plant to another |
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Term
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Definition
| land that is suitable for farming |
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Term
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Definition
| the guarantee of an adequate and reliable food supply for all people at all times |
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Term
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Definition
| a shortage of essential nutrients |
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Term
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Definition
| a process in which scientists directly manipulate an organism's DNA |
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Term
| genetically modified (GM) organism |
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Definition
| an organism whose DNA has been manipulated by scientists |
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Term
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Definition
| the use of genetic engineering to increase the value of products |
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Term
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Definition
| a huge warehouse or pen designed to deliver energy-rich feed to livestock or poultry |
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Term
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Definition
| the raising of aquatic organisms for food in a controlled environment |
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Term
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Definition
| an organization that preserves the seeds of diverse plants in case of a global crop collapse |
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Term
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Definition
| farming that does not deplete soil faster than it forms |
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Term
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Definition
| a type of sustainable agriculture in which only biological methods are used |
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