Section 5a Food Production

Question 1

1

Answer 1

Glasshouses and polythene tunnels are used to protect the crops from weather/dangerous conditions, increasing the chances of it not getting damaged therefore losing it’s yield. Also, they are used to trap in CO2 which are vital for plants to photosynthesise. Finally, its used to trap heat as well, so the plants can grow in an optimum temperature all year round.

Question 2

2

Answer 2

Fertiliser:
Organic - mix of faeces from various animals which is mixed with straw
-Cannot replace all lost nitrogen ions in the soil

Inorganic Fertiliser - made of potassium, nitrogen or phosphate compounds

• Can replace all lost nitrogen ions in the soil but causes eutrophication
• nitrogen -> used to make protein cells
• phosphate -> for plant DNA and cell membranes
• potassium -> for plant cell membranes

Question 3

3

Answer 3

Pesticides
Advantages:
-Crops won’t get damaged by pesticides
-Pesticides can kill a variety of organisms

Disadvantages:

• Resistance. Through natural selection and mutation, pests can become resistant to a pesticide
• They can accumulate in soil, get picked up by water streams and pollute rivers or habitats
• Pests can get bioaccumulated in food chains