Decay

Question 1

Living things are made up of?

Answer 1

Materials they take from the word around them

Question 2

What things do plants take from their surroundings? What happens to them?

Answer 2

Elements: Carbon,, Oxygen, Hydrogen and nitrogen from the soil or air.
They turn these elements into the complex compounds (carbohydrates, proteins and fats) that make up living organisms and these then pass through the food chain

Question 3

What happens to the elements when the plant dies?

Answer 3

They’re returned to the environment in waste products produced by the organism or when it dies. These materials decay because they’re broken down (digested) by microorganisms - and go back into the soil

Question 4

What condition’s are best for microorganisms in order to work best?

Answer 4

Warm and moist conditions.

Many microorganisms break down material faster when there’s plenty of oxygen available

Question 5

What is a stable community?

Answer 5

Somewhere where the materials taken out of the soil and used are balanced by those that are put back in. There’s a constant cycle happening

Question 6

What can be made into compost?

Answer 6

Kitchen waste

Question 7

What is compost? What’s it used for?

Answer 7

Decayed remains of animal and plant matter that can be used as fertiliser

Question 8

How can you make your ‘composter’ more effective?

Answer 8

• Extra decomposers added
• Finely shredded waste is best
• Mesh sides let air in
• Warmth generated by decomposing helps it all along

Question 9

Compost bins recycle [ ] back into the soil

Answer 9

nutrients