4. Answer the following questions:

1) Why may decline the productivity of crops and livestock?

2) Are diverse and location-specific impacts on agricultural production anticipated?

3) Countries of what continents are also currently under severe economic and ecological stress?

4) Is climate change expected to push the agricultural sectors in these countries into further hardship?

5) What may make warmer temperatures?

5. Write the summary of the text above.

6. Retell the text “The effects of climate change on agricultural production”.

7. Translate from Russian into English:

1) Существует обширная литература, в которой анализируются последствия глобального потепления для роста и производства сельскохозяйственных культур.

2) Ожидаются разнообразные и специфические воздействия на сельское хозяйство.

3) Регионы на средних и высоких широтах ,где глобальное потепление будет увеличивать продолжительность потенциального вегетационного периода, возможно, не испытают ожидаемого снижения урожайности, а в тропических регионах, которые, как ожидается, пострадают в наибольшей степени от изменения климата, и это повлечет значительные потери сельскохозяйственного производства.

4) Кукуруза, пшеница и другие основные культуры испытали значительное снижение урожайности, обусловленное климатом, в размере от 40 млн. тонн в год с 1981 по 2002 год на глобальном уровне. Прогнозируемое сокращение примерно на 10% в производстве кукурузы в Африке и Латинской Америке при различных сценариях климата до 2055 года.

5) Более теплые температуры могут заставить многие культуры расти быстрее, но более высокая температура может также снизить урожайность некоторых культур.

Soil science unit VIII

Texts:

1. Soil chemistry

2. Soil fertility (i)

3. Soil fertility (ii)

4. A soil horizon

Active Vocabulary 1

characteristics [ˌkerəktəˈrɪstɪks] – особенности

environmental [ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmentl] – экологический, относящийся к окружающей среде

unconsolidated [ʌnkənˈsɒlɪdeɪtɪd] – неконсолидированный

outermost layer [ˈaʊtərmoʊst ˈleɪə ] – самый внешний слой

topsoil [ˈtɑːpsɔɪl] – верхний слой почвы

fungi and bacteria [ˈfʌŋɡiː ənd bækˈtɪəriə ] – грибы и бактерии

earthworms [ˈɜːθwɜːmz] – дождевые черви

to loosen [ˈluːsn] – рыхлить

floods [flʌdz] – наводнения

carbon dioxide emissions [ˈkɑːrbən daɪˈɑːksaɪd ɪˈmɪʃənz] – выбросы углекислого газа

1. Translate the following word combinations into Russian:

chemical characteristics of soil; mineral composition; unconsolidated mineral material; genetic and environmental factors; outermost layer; decaying plants and animals; productive soil layer; prevent erosion; underground water supplies

2. Read the following text and say:

a) what the term “soil chemistry” means;

b) what subjects are touched upon in the text

Text 1. Soil chemistry

Soil chemistry is the study of the chemical characteristics of soil. Soil chemistry is affected by mineral composition, organic matter and environmental factors. Soil is (i) the unconsolidated mineral or organic material on the immediate surface of the Earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of land plants. (ii) The unconsolidated mineral or organic matter on the surface of the Earth that has been subjected to and shows effects of genetic and environmental factors: climate (including water and temperature effects), and macro- and micro organisms, conditioned by relief, acting on parent material over a period of time.

Soil makes up the outermost layer of our planet and is formed from rocks and decaying plants and animals. Soil has varying amounts of organic matter (living and dead organisms), minerals, and nutrients. An average soil sample is 45 percent minerals, 25 percent water, 25 percent air, and five percent organic matter. Different sized mineral particles, such as sand, silt, and clay, give soil its texture. Topsoil is the most productive soil layer. Ten tonnes of topsoil spread evenly over a hectare is only as thick as a one Euro coin. Natural processes can take more than 500 years to form 2 centimeters of topsoil. In some cases, 5 tonnes of animal life can live in one hectare of soil. Fungi and bacteria help break down organic matter in the soil. Earthworms digest organic matter, recycle nutrients, and make the surface soil richer. Roots loosen the soil, allowing oxygen to penetrate. This benefits animals living in the soil. They also benefit roots which require oxygen themselves. They further hold soil together and help prevent erosion. A fully functioning soil reduces the risk of floods and protects underground water supplies by neutralizing or filtering out potential pollutants and storing as much as 3750 tonnes of water per hectare. Scientists have found 10,000 types of soil in Europe and about 70,000 types of soil in the United States. Soil stores 10% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions.