Chapter 11 - Agricultural Energetics

Question 1

What are intensive agricultural schemes

Answer 1

Practised where large inputs are available but there may be a shortage of land
- yields per unit area may be high but the extra yield per unit of input may not be.
✅ very productive
❌ not very efficient

Question 2

What are extensive agricultural schemes

Answer 2

• aim is to maximise the total yield by spreading the available inputs over a large area of land.

Question 3

What are energy subsidies

Answer 3

• it’s any input that aids productivity but requires the use of energy
• example include:
  1) fuel for machinery for ploughing, spraying, harvesting
  2) manufacture of nitrate fertilisers
  3) manufacture of pesticides
  4) transport of food for consumers
  5) processing of food for consumers

Question 4

What are energy ratios

Answer 4

• a measure of efficiency by comparing energy inputs and outputs them expressing this as the number of units of food energy produced per unit of energy input