The table shows four plants that can be used to produce ethanol, a type of biofuel. Yield is the number of plants that can grow in a particular area. Cost is how much a farmer must spend to plant and grow the
crop. Profit is how much money a farmer makes after harvesting and selling the crop. Variety of species is the number of
different plant, animal, and insect species that can live in the same field with a given crop. Emissions are the amount of carbon
dioxide released during planting, maintaining, and harvesting the crop.
Information About Plants Used for Biofuel
Plant
Yield
Cost
Profit Variety of species Emissions
Corn
High High High Low
High
Miscanthus High Medium Medium Low
Low
Native Grasses Low Medium Low High
Switchgrass Medium Low Medium Medium
Low
Low
A farmer decides to plant corn instead of native grasses.
What are three tradeoffs of this decision?
A lower income
D. decreased biodiversity
B. decreased yield
E. higher environmental impact
C. increased spending