dp 4 - environmental sustainability of primary production

Question 1

Pesticides

Answer 1

Chemical substance used in ag to kill pests.

Question 2

Fetilisers

Answer 2

Substance that provides nutrient to help plants grow or improve soil + is used to produce more crops.

Question 3

Soil acidification

Answer 3

Process where soil pH decreases to the detriment of many plants that best grow in a specific range.

Question 4

Herbicides

Answer 4

Chemical substance used in ag to kill weeds.

Question 5

Consequences to environmental sustainability of chemical overuse

Answer 5

Misuse of fertilisers = nitrate leaking through soil = soil acidification = land degradation = damage to ecosystems = loss of biodiversity.

Question 6

Strategies for reducing environmental impact from overuse of chemicals

Answer 6

• Reducing overuse
• Crop rotation
• Using land-based spraying methods (aerial spraying = contamination)

Question 7

Chemical overuse - pathways for improvment

Answer 7

Organic farming - without the use of artificial chemicals.

Question 8

Land degredation

Answer 8

A deterioration in the quality of the land until it may no longer be able to be used.

Question 9

Land degradation impact on environmental sustainability

Answer 9

• Loss of nutrients in soil
• Soil erosion
• Increased water in the salt table (brings salt to surface which makes it difficult to grow plants = unproductive land).

Question 10

Land degradation - prevention strategies

Answer 10

Reduction in amount of chemicals + use of land-based spraying methods.

Question 11

Climate change pathway: using technology

Answer 11

• Genomics + biotech (climate resilient crop varieties)
• Sensors (measure + provide when + where needed).
• Traditional food production (ab traditions may be better climate adapted).
• Alternative food sources (plant-based alternatives)