Life on Earth - Fertilisers and Pesticides Flashcards
1
Q
Define the term ‘food yield’
A
The amount of food produced from crop plants or animals
2
Q
Define the terms ‘pest’ and ‘pesticide’
A
- Pest - Plants and animals that reduce crop yield
- Pesticide - substances that are sprayed onto crops to kill organisms that can reduce plant growth (pests)
3
Q
Describe two advantages of pesticide usage
A
- Decreases food for pests, making them spread less
- Increases food yield for humans
4
Q
What is the purpose/definition of a fertiliser?
A
Chemical fertilisers are added to the soil to increase the quantity of nutrients (such as nitrates and phosphates) available to plants.
5
Q
Give 3 advantages of fertiliser usage
A
- They provide nitrates - nitrates increase crop yield
- Improves a plant’s ability to make more food when photosynthesising
- Increases the rate amino acids and proteins are made at.
6
Q
Explain the process of nitrates being absorbed by a plant
A
Nitrates are dissolved in soil water → absorbed by plants→used to produce amino acids →synthesised into plant proteins (proteins provide essential functions in cells)
