Farming (9Bd, 9Be) Flashcards
Why do farmers clear forests and remove hedgerows?
To create more space for farming, allowing machines to plant and harvest crops more efficiently.
How do greenhouses help farmers?
They provide controlled conditions for plant growth, protecting crops from temperature, wind, and rain fluctuations.
What do fertilisers contain and why are they important?
Fertilisers contain mineral salts like potassium, phosphates, and nitrates, which help plants grow by providing essential nutrients.
What are two types of fertilisers?
- Artificial fertilisers – chemically produced to provide minerals. 2. Natural fertilisers – include manure and compost, broken down by decomposers to release minerals.
Why does natural fertiliser take longer to work than artificial fertiliser?
Decomposers need time to break down the organic material and release minerals into the soil.
What is the effect of too little phosphate on plant growth?
Plants with insufficient phosphate show stunted growth and poor root development.
Why do plants need mineral salts?
They are essential for growth, development, and production of vital compounds like proteins and chlorophyll.
How do herbicides work?
They kill weeds, which compete with crops for light, water, and nutrients, allowing crops to grow better.
What is the difference between selective and non-selective herbicides?
Selective herbicides target specific weeds while sparing crops. Non-selective herbicides kill all plants they come into contact with.
How do farmers use pesticides to protect crops?
- Insecticides kill insect pests.
- Fungicides kill disease-causing fungi.
- Herbicides kill weeds competing with crops.
What problems can pesticides cause?
Some persist in the environment, leading to accumulation in food chains. They can harm beneficial insects like bees. They may pollute water sources.
What is a plant variety?
A group of plants bred for specific characteristics, such as disease resistance or higher yield.
What is cross-breeding?
A process where different varieties are bred together to produce offspring with desirable traits from both parent plants.
What is selective breeding?
The process of breeding only plants with desired characteristics over multiple generations to create improved crop varieties.
How are new plant varieties created through selective breeding?
- Farmers select parent plants with desired traits.
- These plants are bred together.
- Offspring with the best traits are selected and bred again.
- The process repeats for many generations until a new, stable variety is produced.
Why might a farmer want to grow wheat that is short and resistant to disease?
Short wheat is less likely to be blown over by wind, and disease resistance reduces the need for pesticides.
How does clearing land for farming affect habitats?
It destroys natural habitats, reducing biodiversity and endangering species.
How does deforestation affect soil?
It removes tree roots that help hold the soil together, increasing erosion and making land more prone to landslides.
What is eutrophication, and how does it happen?
- Fertilisers wash into rivers and lakes.
- Algae grow rapidly, covering the water surface.
- Algae block sunlight, preventing photosynthesis in underwater plants.
- Plants die and decompose.
- Decomposers use up oxygen in the water.
- Fish and other aquatic life die due to lack of oxygen.
How can animal waste fertilisers affect the environment?
They can introduce harmful bacteria and microorganisms into soil and water sources.
Why are incesticides (IF U GET THE REFERENCE, UR COOL) a problem?
Some insecticides persist in the environment and accumulate in food chains, harming non-target organisms like birds and beneficial insects.
What is the difference between general insecticides and selective insecticides?
General insecticides kill a wide range of insects. Selective insecticides target specific pests while minimizing harm to beneficial insects.
What is a monoculture?
A farming method where only one type of crop is grown over a large area.
Why does planting monocultures reduce biodiversity?
It creates a uniform environment, reducing the number of different species present and making the ecosystem less resilient to pests and diseases.
What is the danger of monocultures in farming?
If a disease affects one plant, it can spread quickly and wipe out an entire crop due to lack of genetic diversity.
Why do farmers repeatedly plant wheat in the same field?
It is easier and cheaper, but over time it depletes soil nutrients and increases the risk of disease buildup.
How does the carbon cycle work in farming?
- Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air during photosynthesis.
- Animals eat plants, passing carbon up the food chain.
- Respiration in plants and animals releases carbon dioxide back into the air.
- When plants and animals die, decomposers break them down, releasing more carbon dioxide.
- Fossil fuels, formed from ancient plants and animals, release carbon dioxide when burned.
How does farming contribute to climate change?
Clearing forests reduces carbon absorption. Burning fossil fuels for machinery releases carbon dioxide. Livestock produce methane, a greenhouse gas.
Why is sustainable farming important?
It ensures long-term food production while protecting ecosystems and reducing environmental harm.
What are advantages of clearing land for farming?
More space for food production. Can support growing human populations.
What are disadvantages of clearing land for farming?
Destroys habitats. Reduces biodiversity. Increases soil erosion.
How can farmers reduce environmental damage while increasing food production?
Use sustainable fertilisers. Rotate crops to maintain soil health. Reduce pesticide use. Preserve natural habitats.
