13.4: Uses of Natural and Artificial fertilisers

Question 1

What is a farming practice that contributes to improved productivity

Answer 1

The Use of Fertilisers

Question 2

What is food production like in the developed world

Answer 2

Intensive and concentrated on specific areas of land that are used repeatedly

Question 3

Why does food production cause massive demand on soil

Answer 3

Because mineral ions are continually taken up by crops being grown on it.

The crops are used as food or fodder for animals and the mineral ions that the crops have absorbed are removed from the soil and not replaced

Question 4

What occurs to minerals removed from the soil in a normal ecosystem

Answer 4

When plants are decomposed by microorganisms (saprobionts) on its death

Question 5

What occurs to minerals removed from the soil in agricultural systems

Answer 5

The crop is harvested and then transported from its origin to a target place for consumption

This means the minerals absorbed arent placed back into the ecosystem

Question 6

What is a result of the constant removal and non-replacement of mineral ions in agricultural systems

Answer 6

The concentration of the mineral ions in agricultural land will fall.

Question 7

Why is it necessary to replenish these mineral ions

Answer 7

Because otherwise their reduced concentrations will become a limiting factor to plant growth and decreased productivity

Question 8

How is this mineral ion loss replenished

Answer 8

By the addition of fertilisers

Question 9

What are the two types of fertilisers

Answer 9

1. Natural (organic) fertilisers

2. Artificial (inorganic) fertilisers

Question 10

What are Natural (organic) fertilisers

Answer 10

Fertilisers consisting of the dead and decaying remains of plants/animals

Question 11

What are Artificial (inorganic) fertilisers

Answer 11

Fertilisers made from minerals mined from rocks and deposits that are converted into different forms.

Contain Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium

Question 12

What is the best fertiliser to use for the greatest long-term increase in productivity

Answer 12

A combination of natural and artificla fetilisers

Question 13

Why is it important that minerals are added in appropriate quantites

Answer 13

Because there is a point at which further increases in the quantity of fertilisers no longer results in increased productivity

Question 14

How do fertilisers increase productivity

Answer 14

Fertilisers contain minerals that are vital to plant growth.

Question 15

Example of minerals needed for plant growth

Answer 15

1. Nitrogen
2. Phosphate
3. Potassium

Question 16

What is nitrogen needed for (nitrates)

Answer 16

1. Amino acids
2. ATP
3. Nucleotides in DNA

Question 17

What is phosphate needed for

Answer 17

1. Energy
2. Cell membranes
3. DNA
4. Bones and teeth (in animals)

Question 18

What is pottasium needed for

Answer 18

1. Activation of Enzymes for ATP production
2. Pottasium regulates the opening and closing of stomata
3. Activation of other enzymes
4. Key role in osmo-regulation

Question 19

What is the consequence of readily available nitrate ions

Answer 19

Plants are more likely to develop earlier, grow taller and have a greater leaf area

This increases the rate of photosynthesis and improves crop productivity

Question 20

How much have fertilisers increased food production by

Answer 20

100%