Glossary

The management of waste collection, handling, processing, storage and transport from where it is produced to where it is finally disposed. See waste prevention.

Weight of water held by a given quantity of absolutely dry soil when saturated.

The top layer of the zone of saturation; undulates according to the surface topography and subsurface structure.

Water saturation of soil that fills all air spaces and causes plant roots to die from lack of oxygen; a result of over irrigation.

An area of land that collects and discharges water into a single stream or other outlet. Also called a catchment or drainage basin.

 A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, such that it takes on the characteristics of a distinct ecosystem.

Un-domesticated and uncultivated life including both plant and animals in their natural habitat.

Plant species that are taxonomically related to crop species and serve as potential sources for genes in breeding of new varieties of those crops.

Organisms captive or living in the wild that have not been subject to breeding to alter them from their native state.