KA5 - Food production

Question 1

What is a nitrate?

Answer 1

A nitrate is a form of nitrogen that is dissolved in soil water and plants can absorb through their roots.

Question 2

What are nitrates used for?

Answer 2

Nitrates are used to produce amino acids which can then be built up into plant proteins.

Question 3

Where do animals get their amino acids from?

Answer 3

Animals get their amino acids from consuming plants or other animals.

Question 4

What is fertiliser used for?

Answer 4

Fertilisers are used to increase the nitrate level in soil.

Question 5

What are leguminous plants?

Answer 5

Leguminous plants are a special group of plants which have root nodules containing nitrogen fixing bacteria. These bacteria can convert nitrogen gas to nitrates.

Question 6

What 3 major nutrients are needed for healthy growth for plants?

Answer 6

1. Nitrogen
2. Phosphorus
3. Potassium

Question 7

What is nitrogen used for?

Answer 7

Nitrogen is important for leaf growth.

Question 8

What is phosphorus important for?

Answer 8

Phosphorus is important for root growth.

Question 9

What is potassium important for?

Answer 9

Potassium is important for fruit and flower growth.

Question 10

How can nutrients be added to the soil?

Answer 10

1. Fertilisers
2. Manure
3. Compost

Question 11

In which 2 ways can fertilisers be supplied as?

Answer 11

Liquid or granule.

Question 12

How do fertilisers help plants?

Answer 12

Fertilisers provide nitrates and nutrients for plants, making them grow bigger and faster.

Question 13

What is the problem with fertilisers?

Answer 13

They can leech from fields providing extra nitrates, which increases the rate of growth for algae which forms an algae bloom that will grow bacteria, taking all the oxygen and killing the other species off.