Use Of Natural And Artificial Fertilisers Flashcards
What fertilisers can be added to the soil to offset this loss of mineral ions
Natural fertilisers - dead decaying Ramona of plants and animals as well as waste such as manure
Artificial fertilisers- mined from rocks and deposits and converted into different forms to give the appropriate balance of minerals for a particular crop - nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are almost always present
Why is it important that the minerals added are in appropriate quantities
As there is a point at which further increases in the quantity of fertiliser no longer results in productivity
How do fertilisers increase productivity
Plants require minerals for their growth
E.g.
Nitrogen is essential components of amino acids, atp, and nucleotides in dna
Both are needed for plant growth
Where nitrate ions are readily available, plants are likely to develop earlier, grow taller and have a greater leaf area.
This increases the rate of photosynthesis and improves crop productivity
Explain why fertilisers are needed in agricultural ecosystems
Crops are grown repeatedly and intensively on the same area of land.
Mineral ions are taken up by the crops, which are transported and consumed away from the land.
The mineral ions they contain are not returned to the same area of land And so the levels in the soil are reduced, which can limit the rate of photosynthesis. Fertilisers need to be applied to replace them if photosynthesis/productivity is to be maintained
