AP Environmental Science · Unit 5 Land and Water Use
Learning Objectives
High Yield: The 3rd Agricultural Revolution dramatically increased crop yields with GMOs, fertilizers, and irrigation.
Monocultures: Planting genetic clones across huge areas drastically reduces biodiversity and increases vulnerability to pests.
Eutrophication: Massive synthetic fertilizer use leads to runoff, causing toxic algae blooms in waterways.
Water Depletion: Intensive irrigation rapidly drains aquifers (like the Ogallala) faster than they recharge.
Tags
AgricultureGMOsFertilizerRunoff
Food Yield (Calories)
Irrigation Tech (Water Use)
Eutrophication (Algal Blooms)
Pesticide Resistance
Soil Depletion (Salinization)
Economic Cost (Fossil Fuels)
Adopt Green Revolution Practices
Synthetic Fertilizers
0%
Intensive Irrigation
0%
Pesticides & GMOs
0%
The Dilemma: We must use these technologies to feed a global population of 8 billion. However, maxing them out causes severe environmental degradation. Finding sustainable alternatives (like integrated pest management or drip irrigation) is critical.