Question 1

More than 75% of the potentially arable land in South America is being cultivated.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Increasing per hectare yields of crops will likely be a more significant source of increased food production in the next few decades than will expansion of land under cultivation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Which of the following correctly describes human population issues pertinent to food production?

Accepted Answer

A) Populations growth is more rapid in the U.S.than in the developing countries. 
B) We expect the world population to double in the next 10 years. 
C) By 2025 we expect the population to reach 10 million. 
D) The malnourished proportion of the population has decreased since 1970. 
E) In many developing countries, the population is doubling every 10 years. 
A) Populations growth is more rapid in the U.S.than in the developing countries. 
B) We expect the world population to double in the next 10 years. 
C) By 2025 we expect the population to reach 10 million. 
D) The malnourished proportion of the population has decreased since 1970. 
E) In many developing countries, the population is doubling every 10 years.

Question 4

Which of the following is a major reason that most of the uncultivated but potentially arable lands of South America and Africa should not be used for agricultural production?

Accepted Answer

A) They are too infertile. 
B) They would contribute little to meeting food requirements. 
C) Their cultivation would increase global biological diversity. 
D) Their cultivation would aggravate global warming. 
E) They would require expensive irrigation water for high productivity. 
A) They are too infertile. 
B) They would contribute little to meeting food requirements. 
C) Their cultivation would increase global biological diversity. 
D) Their cultivation would aggravate global warming. 
E) They would require expensive irrigation water for high productivity.

Question 5

During the past 30 years, per capita food production increased in developing countries of all regions but Asia.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Worldwide, excesses and/or deficiencies of water reduce crop yields more than any other factor.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Which of the following contributes most positively to soil quality?

Accepted Answer

A) Monoculture cropping systems 
B) Combinations of organic and inorganic inputs 
C) High N and P fertilizer inputs 
D) Removal of crop residues to discourage disease build-up 
E) Using irrigation to raising the water table in dry regions 
A) Monoculture cropping systems 
B) Combinations of organic and inorganic inputs 
C) High N and P fertilizer inputs 
D) Removal of crop residues to discourage disease build-up 
E) Using irrigation to raising the water table in dry regions

Question 8

Which of the following was NOT an element of the Green Revolution of the 1970's and 1980's?

Accepted Answer

A) Integrated pest management to reduce the need for chemical pesticides 
B) High yielding cereal varieties that responded well to fertilizers and irrigation 
C) Greatly expanded use of irrigation water and chemical fertilizers 
D) Monocultural systems that maximized the effects of the new varieties and technologies 
E) Integration of the scientific efforts of plant breeders, soil scientists, agronomists and pest management specialists 
A) Integrated pest management to reduce the need for chemical pesticides 
B) High yielding cereal varieties that responded well to fertilizers and irrigation 
C) Greatly expanded use of irrigation water and chemical fertilizers 
D) Monocultural systems that maximized the effects of the new varieties and technologies 
E) Integration of the scientific efforts of plant breeders, soil scientists, agronomists and pest management specialists

Question 9

In which area is the highest proportion of potentially arable land actually being cropped?

Accepted Answer

A) United States 
B) Africa 
C) South America 
D) Asia 
E) Australia 
A) United States 
B) Africa 
C) South America 
D) Asia 
E) Australia

Question 10

Slash-and-burn agriculture is primarily a system of water conservation and cycling.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Shifting cultivation is a relatively new cropping system, first used in the 1960s.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The distribution of different soil orders suggests all but one of the following:

Accepted Answer

A) Most Oxisols are found in Latin America and Africa. 
B) Alfisols are found mostly in semiarid areas. 
C) Vertisols are most prominent in humid rainforest areas. 
D) Aridisols are more extensive in Africa than in Asia and Latin America. 
E) Mollisols are not very widespread in the tropics. 
A) Most Oxisols are found in Latin America and Africa. 
B) Alfisols are found mostly in semiarid areas. 
C) Vertisols are most prominent in humid rainforest areas. 
D) Aridisols are more extensive in Africa than in Asia and Latin America. 
E) Mollisols are not very widespread in the tropics.

Question 13

Which of the following are not among the major constraints on increasing food production per capita in Africa?

Accepted Answer

A) Food producing areas are far from population centers. 
B) Erratic rainfall distribution and frequent droughts. 
C) Very rapid increases in human population numbers. 
D) Fertilizer use is very low. 
E) Insufficient area of productive soils. 
A) Food producing areas are far from population centers. 
B) Erratic rainfall distribution and frequent droughts. 
C) Very rapid increases in human population numbers. 
D) Fertilizer use is very low. 
E) Insufficient area of productive soils.

Question 14

In recent years the annual productivity of slash-and-burn systems has tended to decline over that achieved by the traditional shifting cultivation systems of the past.To what is this decline most likely due?

Accepted Answer

A) decrease in the length of the fallow period 
B) increase in the period of food production in a given cycle 
C) failure to grow legumes in the cropping system 
D) reduction in the C/N ratio of the soil organic matter 
E) reduction in the use of fertilizers 
A) decrease in the length of the fallow period 
B) increase in the period of food production in a given cycle 
C) failure to grow legumes in the cropping system 
D) reduction in the C/N ratio of the soil organic matter 
E) reduction in the use of fertilizers

Question 15

The proportion of the population of developing countries that are malnourished is higher today than it was 25 years ago.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Experts predict that the world's population will exceed 10 billion people by 2025.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Which of the following is true of organic farming as certified in the Europe, the USA and many other countries?

Accepted Answer

A) Organic farmers are allowed to use only organic chemicals (those containing carbon). 
B) Improvement of soil quality is an official goal of organic farming. 
C) The burning of all plant residues is encouraged in organic farming. 
D) Organic farms can use only animal manure to supply nutrients and build soil organic matter. 
E) Organic farmers can use only compost made form plant materials to supply nutrients and build soil organic matter. 
A) Organic farmers are allowed to use only organic chemicals (those containing carbon). 
B) Improvement of soil quality is an official goal of organic farming. 
C) The burning of all plant residues is encouraged in organic farming. 
D) Organic farms can use only animal manure to supply nutrients and build soil organic matter. 
E) Organic farmers can use only compost made form plant materials to supply nutrients and build soil organic matter.

Question 18

Biofuel production form plant cellulose is likely to be a viable sustainable alternative to fossil fuel if all the entire above ground plant is harvested for conversion to fuel.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

During the 1990s, the rate of increase of food production has declined.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Soils of the tropics will greatly affect future food supplies.Which of the following is correct in relation to these soils?

Accepted Answer

A) Oxisols and Ultisols dominate the semiarid areas. 
B) Oxisols and Ultisols are highly leached and low in available nutrients. 
C) Mollisols developed on alluvial parent materials are prized as productive rice soils. 
D) Alfisols are widespread in the tropics, especially in humid areas. 
E) Aridisols are scarce in the tropics, especially in Africa. 
A) Oxisols and Ultisols dominate the semiarid areas. 
B) Oxisols and Ultisols are highly leached and low in available nutrients. 
C) Mollisols developed on alluvial parent materials are prized as productive rice soils. 
D) Alfisols are widespread in the tropics, especially in humid areas. 
E) Aridisols are scarce in the tropics, especially in Africa.

More than 75% of the potentially arable land in South America is being cultivated.

Increasing per hectare yields of crops will likely be a more significant source of increased food production in the next few decades than will expansion of land under cultivation.

Which of the following correctly describes human population issues pertinent to food production?

Which of the following is a major reason that most of the uncultivated but potentially arable lands of South America and Africa should not be used for agricultural production?

During the past 30 years, per capita food production increased in developing countries of all regions but Asia.

Worldwide, excesses and/or deficiencies of water reduce crop yields more than any other factor.

Which of the following contributes most positively to soil quality?

Which of the following was NOT an element of the Green Revolution of the 1970's and 1980's?

In which area is the highest proportion of potentially arable land actually being cropped?

Slash-and-burn agriculture is primarily a system of water conservation and cycling.

Shifting cultivation is a relatively new cropping system, first used in the 1960s.

The distribution of different soil orders suggests all but one of the following:

Which of the following are not among the major constraints on increasing food production per capita in Africa?

In recent years the annual productivity of slash-and-burn systems has tended to decline over that achieved by the traditional shifting cultivation systems of the past.To what is this decline most likely due?

The proportion of the population of developing countries that are malnourished is higher today than it was 25 years ago.

Experts predict that the world's population will exceed 10 billion people by 2025.

Which of the following is true of organic farming as certified in the Europe, the USA and many other countries?

Biofuel production form plant cellulose is likely to be a viable sustainable alternative to fossil fuel if all the entire above ground plant is harvested for conversion to fuel.

During the 1990s, the rate of increase of food production has declined.

Soils of the tropics will greatly affect future food supplies.Which of the following is correct in relation to these soils?

The Soils Around US

Formation of Soils From Parent Materials

Soil Classification

Soil Architecture and Physical Properties

Soil Water: Characteristics and Behavior

Soil and the Hydrologic Cycle

Soil Aeration and Temperature

Soil Colloids: Seat of Soil Chemical and Physical Activity

Soil Acidity

Soils of Dry Regions: Alkalinity, Salinity, and Sodicity

Organisms and Ecology of the Soil

Soil Organic Matter

Nitrogen and Sulfur Economy of Soils

Soil Phosphorus and Potassium

Micronutrients and Other Trace Elements

Practical Nutrient Management

Soil Erosion and Its Control

Soils and Chemical Pollution

Geographic Soils Information

Filters

Exam 20: Prospects for Global Soil Quality

More than 75% of the potentially arable land in South America is being cultivated.

Increasing per hectare yields of crops will likely be a more significant source of increased food production in the next few decades than will expansion of land under cultivation.

Which of the following correctly describes human population issues pertinent to food production?

Which of the following is a major reason that most of the uncultivated but potentially arable lands of South America and Africa should not be used for agricultural production?

During the past 30 years, per capita food production increased in developing countries of all regions but Asia.

Worldwide, excesses and/or deficiencies of water reduce crop yields more than any other factor.

Which of the following contributes most positively to soil quality?

Which of the following was NOT an element of the Green Revolution of the 1970's and 1980's?

In which area is the highest proportion of potentially arable land actually being cropped?

Slash-and-burn agriculture is primarily a system of water conservation and cycling.

Shifting cultivation is a relatively new cropping system, first used in the 1960s.

The distribution of different soil orders suggests all but one of the following:

Which of the following are not among the major constraints on increasing food production per capita in Africa?

In recent years the annual productivity of slash-and-burn systems has tended to decline over that achieved by the traditional shifting cultivation systems of the past.To what is this decline most likely due?

The proportion of the population of developing countries that are malnourished is higher today than it was 25 years ago.

Experts predict that the world's population will exceed 10 billion people by 2025.

Which of the following is true of organic farming as certified in the Europe, the USA and many other countries?

Biofuel production form plant cellulose is likely to be a viable sustainable alternative to fossil fuel if all the entire above ground plant is harvested for conversion to fuel.

During the 1990s, the rate of increase of food production has declined.

Soils of the tropics will greatly affect future food supplies.Which of the following is correct in relation to these soils?

The Soils Around US

Formation of Soils From Parent Materials

Soil Classification

Soil Architecture and Physical Properties

Soil Water: Characteristics and Behavior

Soil and the Hydrologic Cycle

Soil Aeration and Temperature

Soil Colloids: Seat of Soil Chemical and Physical Activity

Soil Acidity

Soils of Dry Regions: Alkalinity, Salinity, and Sodicity

Organisms and Ecology of the Soil

Soil Organic Matter

Nitrogen and Sulfur Economy of Soils

Soil Phosphorus and Potassium

Micronutrients and Other Trace Elements

Practical Nutrient Management

Soil Erosion and Its Control

Soils and Chemical Pollution

Geographic Soils Information

Filters