Intensive Food Production

Question 1

What does intensive farming do and why?

Answer 1

Uses high inputs per area to maximise yield.

Question 2

What are methods to increase yield?

Answer 2

• Focus on high-yielding varieties(rice,grain),
• provide optimal nutrients for rapid growth(processed foodstuff, BST, inorganic ammonium),
• focusing on monocultures(single variety in large scale)
• application of pest and competitor control(insecticides, fungicides, molluscides, antibiotics(

Question 3

What is a consequence of intensive good production?

Answer 3

Reduction in species diversity, loss of ecosystem complexity, less stable ecosystem, poorer soil conditions.

Question 4

What can the increase use of artificial fertilisers cause?

Answer 4

Leaching - dissolved nutrients wash through the soil.

Run-off - nutrients become dissolved in water surface and are washed away.

Question 5

What happens when nutrients are washed into freshwater ecosystems?

Answer 5

Eutrophication may occur

Question 6

What is algal bloom?

Answer 6

A rapid population increase in single-celled producers.

Question 7

Define eutrophication.

Answer 7

The increase in the inorganic nutrient concentration of an aquatic habitat such as river, lake or estuary.

Question 8

How does biodegradable organic pollution negatively affect freshwater ecosystems?

Answer 8

If it has high BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) it will stimulate the growth of aquatic decomposer bacteria a decrease the concentration if dissolved oxygen, causing death of some aquatic animals.

Question 9

How can biodegradable organic pollution be monitored?

Answer 9

Monitoring the abundance of indicator species (the sensitive and resistant species to oxygen depletion).

Question 10

Why has farming had to become intensive?

Answer 10

To keep pace with human population increase