Question

while soil erosion occurs naturally, human activities, such as farming, have greatly increased the rate of soil erosion in many places around the globe.
which of the following actions by a large - scale farming operation are most likely to result in severe soil erosion?
choose 2 answers:
a the farm removes native vegetation and plows bare acres of topsoil months before the planting season.
b the farm sprays an ultra fine mist of powdered herbicides on crop fields.
c the farm specializes by growing only one type of crop on a large area of land.
d the farm irrigates their cropland by flooding the ground, and allowing gravity to distribute the water.

Explanation:

• Option A: Removing native vegetation and leaving topsoil bare makes the soil vulnerable to wind and water erosion as there is no root system to hold the soil in place.
• Option D: Flooding the cropland and relying on gravity for water distribution can lead to soil being washed away (water erosion) as the force of the water can dislodge and carry soil particles.
• Option B: Spraying powdered herbicides as an ultra - fine mist is more about weed control and does not directly cause severe soil erosion.
• Option C: Growing only one type of crop (monocropping) may have other negative impacts like soil nutrient depletion but is not as directly related to severe soil erosion as options A and D.

Answer:

A. The farm removes native vegetation and plows bare acres of topsoil months before the planting season.
D. The farm irrigates their cropland by flooding the ground, and allowing gravity to distribute the water.