To grow well, plants need enough warmth, light, and water. Crops must be protected from weeds and pests.
Learning Goal 2
Part of a crop may be lost to pests or spoilage.
For Grades: 3-5
Learning Goal 1a
Some plant varieties and animal breeds have more desirable characteristics than others, but some may be more difficult or costly to grow.
Learning Goal 1b
The kinds of crops that can grow in an area depend on the climate and soil.
Learning Goal 1c
Irrigation and fertilizers can help crops grow in places where there is too little water or the soil is poor.
For Grades: 6-8
Learning Goal 3ac
In agriculture, as in all technologies, there are always trade-offs to be made. Specializing in one crop may risk disaster if changes in weather or increases in pest populations wipe out that crop. Also, the soil may be exhausted of some nutrients, which can be replenished by rotating the right crops.
For Grades: 9-12
Learning Goal 3a
Agricultural technology requires trade-offs between increased production and environmental harm and between efficient production and social values.
