Soil and Land Use

3. Commercially manufactured chemical blends used to rapidly add nutrients to soil.
4. The uppermost layer of soil, primarily composed of organic matter like leaf litter.
9. The 1930s ecological disaster caused by severe drought and poor farming practices.
10. The permanent removal of trees to make room for agriculture or grazing.
12. The indigenous companion planting technique of corn, beans, and squash.
15. The loss of essential soil elements due to over-farming and lack of replenishment.
18. Commonly known as topsoil; a mixture of organic material and mineral particles.
22. The practice of cultivating or processing food in or around a village, town, or city.
23. A farming method that limits soil disturbance to reduce erosion and improve soil health.
24. The subsoil layer where minerals and nutrients from upper layers accumulate.
25. The accumulation of water-soluble salts in the soil, often due to improper irrigation.
26. Vegetation grown on the tops of buildings to provide food and reduce heat islands.
28. The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought or deforestation.

1. Planting specific crops, like clover, primarily to manage soil erosion and fertility.
2. The zone of leaching where silicate clays and minerals like iron are moved downward.
5. Creating flat platforms on steep hillsides to prevent water runoff and soil loss.
6. Natural materials like manure or compost used to provide nutrients to soil.
7. The farming of fish, crustaceans, and aquatic plants in controlled environments.
8. Plowing along the natural curves of the land to minimize soil runoff.
11. Ecosystems saturated by water that act as natural filters and flood control
13. The wearing away of the top layer of soil by physical forces like water and wind.
14. Dark, organic material formed in soil from the decayed remains of plants and animals.
16. Open land used for grazing livestock rather than for growing crops.
17. The layer consisting of weathered parent material, sitting just above solid rock.
19. A specialized branch of aquaculture involving the cultivation of marine organisms in the open ocean.
20. The practice of growing different types of crops in the same area in sequential seasons.
21. Planting different crops in alternating strips to prevent erosion and manage pests.
24. The solid, unweathered rock layer that lies beneath all soil horizons.
27. The unintentional capture of non-target species in fishing nets or gear.