Impacts of farming systems on the environment. Concentrates on intensive plant production and slash and burn farming

1. Topic 3: Human population,
carrying capacity and resource use
3.5: Food Resources
3.5.3: Impacts of Farming Systems
Farming Systems

2. Topic 3: Human population,
carrying capacity and resource use
3.5: Food Resources
3.5.3: Impacts of Farming Systems
• All agriculture exerts a set of impacts upon
the environment
• These impacts result from inputs of energy
and materials into the system, processes
within the system as well as outputs from
the system.

3. Topic 3: Human population,
carrying capacity and resource use
3.5: Food Resources
3.5.3: Impacts of Farming Systems
• Technocentric Modern
farming techniques are
seen to be less
environmentally friendly
than traditional farming
methods

4. Topic 3: Human population,
carrying capacity and resource use
3.5: Food Resources
3.5.3: Impacts of Farming Systems
Cases Studies
Comparing Farming Systems

5. Topic 3: Human population,
carrying capacity and resource use
3.5: Food Resources
3.5.3: Impacts of Farming Systems
Intensive Plant Production
• Tend to be monocultures of selectively breed strains
• Extensive inputs of Chemical fertilisers and
pesticides
• Indoor growing under glass using in temperature
controlled conditions
• Extensive use of machinery

6. Topic 3: Human population,
carrying capacity and resource use
3.5: Food Resources
3.5.3: Impacts of Farming Systems
Intensive Plant Production
http://aboutenvironment.wordpress.com/ http://www.valcogreenhouse.com/en/cooling/greenhouse-fogging

7. Topic 3: Human population,
carrying capacity and resource use
3.5: Food Resources
3.5.3: Impacts of Farming Systems
Intensive Plant Production
• Habitat loss as hedges and woodlands are removed to
make bigger fields
• bioaccumulation of toxins from pesticides up the food
chain
• Eutrophication through over use of chemical fertilisers
• Soil erosion as biomass is continually removed

8. Topic 3: Human population,
carrying capacity and resource use
3.5: Food Resources
3.5.3: Impacts of Farming Systems
Intensive Plant Production
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/campaigns/planning- http://www.okstate.edu/artsci/botany/bisc3034/lnotes/
reform/northern-ireland/Pages/woodland.aspx agroeco.htm

9. Topic 3: Human population,
carrying capacity and resource use
3.5: Food Resources
3.5.3: Impacts of Farming Systems
Slash and Burn Farming
• A small area of land cleared usually to be used by
one family
• Cutting vegetation then burning it on site adds
nutrients from the ash
• Area used for a short period of time
• Growing of indigenous (native) plants

10. Topic 3: Human population,
carrying capacity and resource use
3.5: Food Resources
3.5.3: Impacts of Farming Systems
Slash and Burn Farming
http://www.rainforestsaver.org/what-is-it-all-about/what-is-
http://my.opera.com/terryyoder/blog/
slash-and-burn-farming/

11. Topic 3: Human population,
carrying capacity and resource use
3.5: Food Resources
3.5.3: Impacts of Farming Systems
Slash and Burn Farming
• Allows small communities to survive where land is
unproductive
• Can cause erosion after burning when soil is exposed
• When used by large communities leads to habitat loss
• Original vegetation can quickly reestablish from
secondary succession

12. Topic 3: Human population,
carrying capacity and resource use
3.5: Food Resources
3.5.3: Impacts of Farming Systems
Slash and Burn Farming
http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/ecology/save-the-
http://recs-intl.com/08Photo_trail/mz/photo_mz_ang03.htm
rainforest-by-eating-yogurt/120