Food Supply, Plant Growth and Productivity Flashcards
What is the definition of food security?
The ability of human populations to access food of sufficient quality and quantity.
What is quantity in terms of food security?
Sufficient food must be available at all times.
What is quality in terms of food security?
Food is sufficiently nutritious and varied to produce a balanced diet.
What is access in terms of food security?
People have economic means to obtain the available food.
What are the three important areas under food security?
Access, quantity, and quality.
What does sustainable food security mean?
It should not degrade the natural resources on which agriculture depends.
How can sustainable food production be shown?
The agricultural systems do not deplete nutrients in the soil, reduce biodiversity, or pollute the environment.
Name six factors that control plant growth, and increase food production?
- Breeding higher-yielding cultivars
- Protecting crops from pests
- Protecting crops from disease
- Decreasing competition
- Appropriate soil nutrients
- Appropriate soil profile
Effect of higher-yielding cultivars on food production?
Increases yield but may require more intensive farming methods. They are also more dependant on certain soil profiles and nutrients.
Effect of pests on food production?
Decreases yield by feeding on crops or by making the plants less healthy or causing disease.
Effect of disease on food production?
Decrease yield as the plant is less healthy. May also produce food that is unsuitable for eating.
Effect of competition on food production?
Weeds or dense planting will slow growth as there will be competition for nutrients and rooting space.
Effect of soil profile on food production?
The depth of soil/drainage will determine what type of crop you can grow.
Effect of soil nutrients on food production?
Plants need specific nutrient profiles - some may need fertilisers to be added. Crop rotations can be used as well.
Effect of selective breeding on food production?
Can lead to major changes over generations but takes time and may not give you the desired result.
What is selective breeding?
Only breeding for specific desirable qualities.
What are some desirable characteristics of crops?
- Higher nutritional values
- Quick growth
- High crop yield
- Resistance to pests
- Drought resistant
- Flood resistant
- High quality of produce
What are some desirable characteristics of livestock?
- Higher nutritional values
- Quick growth
- Resistance to disease
- Lean meat
- High production of meat
- High quality of produce
Where does the majority of human food come from?
A small number of plant crops; such as cereals, potatoes, legumes, and roots.
What is all food production dependant on?
Photosynthesis
What is an autotroph?
An organism that can produce its own energy from sunlight.
What is a heterotroph?
An organism that must consume other organisms for energy.
What is the trophic level of an organism?
The position it occupies in a food chain.
From the bottom of a trophic level diagram, what order does it go in?
Producers > primary consumers > secondary consumers > tertiary consumers.
What percentage of energy is passed onto the next trophic level?
Only around 10% - therefore 90% of the energy is being lost.
Per unit area, who produces more food between plants and livestock?
Plants - due to the energy lost in each trophic level when producing livestock.
What is important to consider when comparing food production between plants and livestock?
Livestock production may be possible in habitats unsuitable for growing crops.
