Environmental Science Assignment: Soil, Agriculture and CAFO Analysis

This assignment delves into the realms of soil science and agricultural practices, encompassing a comparative analysis of soil horizons across different ecosystems, including temperate deciduous forests, grasslands, and tropical forests. It examines the organic layer, topsoil, and the impact of deforestation on soil composition and fertility, particularly within the context of tropical regions. The assignment also explores the complexities of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), requiring students to evaluate their advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, it involves a data collection activity, where students analyze CAFO data from Colorado, North Carolina, and Rhode Island, using provided resources to compare animal density levels across different types of livestock and poultry. The analysis includes the average number of animals per site for various years, prompting students to identify patterns and draw conclusions based on the collected data.

Solis Assignment
Answer the following questions using the "Soils" ppt and the Chapter 12 Science Focus pertaining to
soils.
1) Compare the "O" and the "A" horizon of the temperate deciduous forest, grassland and the tropical
forest soil structure.
a) Which soil horizon is called the organic layer and which soil horizon is characteristic of Topsoil?
b) Which of the three soil horizons has the deepest "A" horizon containing the most Topsoil?
c) Tropical forests are viewed as rich in biomass productivity. Currently, much of the trees in tropical
forests are being cut down for establishing cattle ranches.
How thick or deep is the tropical forest "O" and "A" soil horizons? Give you best explanation of what
natural processes are taking place to explain why this is the case.
d) What do think happens to the soils once the trees are removed in tropical forests? What role do you
think trees play in soil formation?
e) How might the soil formation process change if the tree were removed?
f) What are the two main types of traditional agriculture?
g) What do all types of conventional crop production depend on?
Watch Videos
 The Importance of Soil (6: 40)
 Solis: A hidden resource ( 5: 58)
 Soil Horizon: (8:05)
Part 2
Answer Question
State your view point whether you promote concentrated animal feeding operations as a method of
protein and meat production. In your discussion you must note at least two advantages and two
disadvantages of animal feedlots.
Part 3
Assignment Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO)
The assignment consists of data collection activities of CAFO’s in three states: Colorado, North Carolina,
and Rhode Island. You will use the form below to compare the density levels of cattle, dairy, hogs,
broilers, and layers across in each state.

Start by going to the website: http://www.factoryfarmmap.org/. It contains a map of the United States
with counties shown in more detail. The darker the red color the more dense or more animals per area
exist on farms.
1) Click on each state: Colorado, North Carolina, and Rhode Island and record the “Average
Number of Animals per Site” for the years 1997, 2002, 2007.
NOTE: If tables are blank assume none.
NOTE: If you move the mouse over the chart the actual number pops up.
2) Submit your data in the table and your answers to the following questions:
a. Which state has the highest average number of broilers per site?
b. Which state has the highest average number of hogs per site?
Datasheet
State and Meat 1997 2002 2007
Colorado
Cattle
Dairy
Hogs
Boilers
North Carolina
Cattle
Dairy
Hogs
Boilers
Rhode Island
Cattle
Dairy
Hogs
Boilers