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Environmental science > Chapter 11 > Flashcards

Chapter 11 Flashcards

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1
Q

What 3 factors affect agriculture?

A

Temperature
Water
Light

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2
Q

What are the importance of suitable temperatures?

A 
Length of thermal growing season
Frost-free period
Impact on evaporation
Biochemical reactions
Thermoregulation
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3
Q

What field locations can affect temperature?

A 
Low lying areas
South-facing slopes
Frosts in orchards
Transparent woven plastic
Livestock can be kept warm by shelters
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4
Q

Why is light important?

A

Photosynthesis
Longer days increase milk production
Poultry grow best with short days but more eggs are produced with long days
Some livestock mate when the days are shorter

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5
Q

How can light be controlled?

A

Artificial light

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6
Q

Why is water important?

A 
Physical functions
Nutrient absorption
Used to transport materials
Needed to replace lost water
Gaseous exchange
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7
Q

3 ways water supply can affect crops?

A

Amount
Reliability
Quality

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8
Q

Whare are 2 problems caused by waterlogged soils?

A

Higher risk of fungal disease

Anaerobic soils

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9
Q

What methods are used to reduce water soil levels?

A 
Excavation of drainage ditches
Drainage pipes
Deep ploughing
Avoidance of soil compaction
Provision and conditions to encourage worms
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10
Q

What methods are used to increase water availability?

A

Irrigation
Soil mulching
Suitable conditions for worms
Adding soil organic matter

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11
Q

How are soil nutrients made available in the soil?

A

Legumes
Soil bacteria
Crop rotation

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12
Q

What do organic fertilisers include?

A

Faecal materials
Animal food production
Plant food wastes

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13
Q

What are the 2 nutrient application methods?

A

Cultural methods

Mechanical application

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14
Q

What is hydroponics?

A

Growing of plants in a nutrient solution

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15
Q

What are the advantages of hydroponic production?

A 
No soil so more appealing
Pathogens can't live in the soil
Increased growth rate
Nutrients are available so are not limiting
No weeds
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16
Q

What are the disadvantages of hydroponic production?

A

Involves high input of nutrients

Involves high skill level

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17
Q

How can aeration be controlled?

A

Ploughing
Low tillage methods
Addition of organic matter
Removing livestock from wet fields

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18
Q

How can soil pH be increased and reduced?

A

Increased - adding crushed lime

Decreased - spreading sulphur powder

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19
Q

What are the 4 topography factors?

A

Aspect
Frost pockets
Runoff rate
Use of machinery

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20
Q

What is the relief and how does it impact crops and livestock?

A

Altitudes
Crops - increased evaporation
Livestock - some species are adapted to high altitudes

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21
Q

What problems can wind velocity cause?

A

Increased soil erosion
Increased evaporation
Crop damage

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22
Q

How can pests affect agriculture?

A 
Predators
Compete for resources
Pathogens
Carry pathogens
Reduce marketability
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23
Q

What is crop rotation?

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A

Rotating crops so pests have to cultivate a different area each year

24
Q

What are companion crops?

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A

Crops that are grown together to increase productivity

25
What are the different ways of growing companion crops?
Nutrient supply Barrier crops Pest attraction Support of pollinators
26
What are 2 types of pest control?
Sterile Male | Pheromone traps
27
What are sterile male techniques?
Sterilising the male so species can reproduce
28
What is a pheromone trap?
Release artificial scent to show pests are present or to kill off a gender of that particular pest
29
What are the properties of chemical pesticides?
``` Toxicity Specificity Persistence Solubility in water/lipids Contact action Systemic actions ```
30
What are the principles of integrated control?
Use of cultural techniques which makes the growth of the environment less suitable for pests Use of cultural techniques that prevents build-up of pests Cultivating species and varieties Use of appropriate non-pesticide techniques Use of pesticides when essential
31
How can pollinators services be aided?
Provision of food supply Restricting the use of pesticides that harm pollinators Introduction of bee hives
32
What do detritivores and decomposers do?
Increase nutrient availability through the breakdown of organic matter
33
How can population be controlled?
Optimum livestock/crop density | Monocultures
34
What are the advantages and disadvantages of asexual reproduction in plants?
Same characteristics so are predictable | No genetic variation for can't be improved
35
What are the advantages of cloning animals?
Valuable animals that die can be replaced Herds that are culled during disease can be replaced Large numbers of individuals with desirable characteristics can be produced
36
What are two improved breeding techniques?
Artificial insemination | Embryo transfer
37
What is GM?
Genetic modification - addition of one characteristic into an organism
38
What is an example of genetic engineering?
The gene for omega 3 has been transferred into rapeseed oil to ensure that people get enough omega 3
39
What are the 2 advantages of GM?
Individual desirable characteristics can be introduced | Genes that wouldn't normally be introduced can be
40
What are the 6 disadvantages of GM?
Can increase food allergies Migration of genes from GM crops to conventional plants Transfer through the food chain Genes provide resistance to antibiotics Increased costs to farmers COncerns in LEDCs that GM crops will reduce the local indigenous crop diversity
41
What is intensive agriculture?
Optimising yields by concentrating inputs over a small area
42
What is extensive farming?
Optimising yields by spreading the inputs over a large area
43
What are energy subsidies?
In an agricultural system is any input that aids productivity but requires the use of energy
44
What are some examples of energy subsidies?
``` Manufacture of nitrate fertilisers Manufacture of pesticides Irrigation of water Fuel for machinery Manufacture of machinery Heat for drying grains Processing of food for consumers Transport of food ```
45
What are energy ratios?
A measure of efficiency by comparing energy inputs and then expressing them as a number of units of food energy produced.
46
What are food conversion ratios?
A measure of the mass of food needed to produce a given mass of livestock.
47
What is control of food chain energy losses?
An understanding of energy flow in food chains can help in developing more efficient ways of using farmland.
48
What are the habitat impacts of agriculture?
Drainage Nutrient enrichment Reduced biodiversity
49
What are the introduced species impacts on agriculture?
Introduced pests | Biological control species
50
What are the pollution impacts on agriculture?
``` Pesticides Nutrient pollution Nitrate toxicity Climate change Embodied energy ```
51
What changes are there in the hydrological cycle?
Irrigation water depends on the source Soil erosion caused by agriculture can reduce the effects of soil Soil compaction can increase runoff rates Agriculture changes evapotranspiration rates
52
What are the social factors that affect agriculture?
``` Cultural factors Religious factors Ethical issues - Local food/food miles - Seasonal food - Free-range livestock - Organic food - Fairtrade food ```
53
What technology is available?
``` Machinery and equipment for processed Pesticides Fertilisers Genetic improvements Support infrastructure ```
54
What are the economic and political influences on agriculture?
Food aid Grants Guaranteed market Food surpluses
55
How can food supplies be reduced?
``` Quotas Farm diversification Alternative crops and livestock Set-aside Agri-environmental schemes ```
56
What strategies are used to increase sustainable agriculture?
``` Cultural pest control Increased use of natural processes to supply nutrients Reduced use of artificial fertilisers Conservation of habitats Cultivation of low water use crops Low tillage farming Cultivation of rice varieties Retain natural and semi-natural ecosystems ```

Environmental science (14 decks)

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