Unit 3.1: Food Supply, Plant Growth and Productivity

Question 1

What is food security?

Answer 1

The ability of human populations to access food of sufficient quality and quantity to maintain a healthy population

Question 2

Why is food security and increasing issue in the human population?

Answer 2

Increase in human population without change in land available

Question 3

What is meant by sustainable food production?

Answer 3

Food is produced and can continue to be produced without degrading the natural resources on which agriculture depends

Question 4

Factors affecting food production?

Answer 4

Pests - decrease yield, either by feeding on crops or by making the plant less healthy
Competition - weeds or too dense planting will slow growth
Disease - Decrease yield as the plant is less healthy. May also produce food that is unsuitable for eating
Soil profile - The depth of soil drainage will determine what type of crop you can grow
Soil nutrients - Plants need specific nutrient profiles. Some may need to be added using fertilisers. Can also use crop rotations
Breeding higher yield cultivars - will increase yield, but some require more intensive farming methods and are more dependent on particular soil profiles and nutrients

Question 5

Why do livestock produce less food per unit area than plant crops?

Answer 5

Each trophic level in a food chain brings a loss of fixed energy mass

Question 6

Explain the statement: energy is lost from the food chain as waste, but not from the food web

Answer 6

It decomposes and other organisms can still feed on the waste so the energy is still available