Food Production Flashcards
What increasing in human population require
It requires an increased food yield
What are fertilisers
Fertilisers provide chemicals such as nitrates which increase crop yield
What do pesticides do
Pesticides kill plants and animals which reduce the crop yield
What are nitrates
Nitrates dissolved in soil water are absorbed into plants then they are used to produce amino acids which are used to synthesise plant proteins
What are the problems with using fertilisers
Fertilisers can leach into fresh water, adding extra unwanted nitrate which increases algal population which causes algal blooms.
What do algal blooms do
Algal blooms reduce light level, meaning that other plants cannot photosynthesise and this leads to death of other aquatic plants.
What do dead plants and dead algae become
Dead plants and dead algae become food for bacteria which increase greatly in number.
What does bacteria use up
Bacteria use up large quantities of oxygen, reducing oxygen availability for other organisms which leads to other organisms dying
What can be used as an alternative to using Fertilisers
GM crops can be used as an alternative to using fertilisers.
What happens when crops are genetically modified
Crops when they are genetically modified increases yield
What are the problems with using pesticides
Pesticides sprayed onto crops can accumulate in the bodies of organisms over time. This is known as bioaccumulation.
What are the other disadvantages of using pesticides
As they are passed along food chains, toxicity increases and can reach lethal levels.
What are the alternatives to using pesticides
Biological control can be used as an alternative to pesticides. This involves introducing a natural predator or parasite of the pest to reduce their numbers so that less damage is caused to crops
