Food Production And Crop Yield
Overview
The world has more mouths to feed every year, but the area of farmland is not growing to match. So the great challenge of modern agriculture is to grow more food from the land we already have, without wearing it out. Farmers have a whole toolkit for raising yield: better watering, fertilisers, machines, improved seeds, greenhouses and ways of controlling pests. Each one has a cost as well as a benefit.
In this lesson you will meet the main types of agriculture, learn what sustainable food production really means, and work through the strategies that raise crop yield and the harm that follows when those same methods are pushed too far. By the end you should be able to weigh up the gains against the damage, exactly the kind of balanced judgement the exam rewards.
Objectives
- 2.2.1 Describe the different types of agriculture, limited to: (a) arable, pastoral and mixed (b) subsistence and commercial (c) intensive (d) monoculture.
- 2.2.2 Define sustainable food production as the production of sufficient food for the present generation using methods that ensure future generations can grow food from the same land.
- 2.2.3 Describe and explain strategies to increase food production and crop yield, limited to: (a) mixed cropping, intercropping and crop rotation (b) improved methods of irrigation: trickle/drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting and automated watering systems (c) mechanisation (d) genetically modified organisms: changing the genetic material of an organism by removing, changing or inserting individual genes to give favourable characteristics (e) controlled environments: greenhouses, hydroponics and aeroponics (f) managed grazing: livestock rotation (g) urban farming (h) agroforestry (i) inorganic NPK fertilisers (j) organic fertilisers: crop residue, manure and mulch (k) chemical control of pests (pesticides): insect control (insecticide), weed control (herbicide) and fungus control (fungicide) (l) biological control of pests.
- 2.2.4 Describe and explain the impacts of unsustainable agricultural practices on the environment and people, limited to: (a) overproduction of food: food wastage (b) food shortages: cash crops (coffee, cotton, soya beans and palm oil) and biofuel crops replacing food crops (c) mismanagement of irrigation: soil erosion, salinisation and water logging (d) overuse of pesticides: pesticide resistance, pest resurgence and impacts on pollinators (e) overuse of fertilisers: leaching into water sources, nutrient enrichment and eutrophication (f) exhaustion of nutrients in soils: organic content and inorganic ions (g) removal of natural vegetation: deforestation, overcultivation and overgrazing (h) monoculture and intensification: soil and water pollution, loss of biodiversity (i) soil erosion: loss of topsoil and nutrients.
Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Food Production And Crop Yield. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- A farm that grows just enough food to feed the farmer's own family is best described as: A. Commercial B. Subsistence C. Intensive D. Arable Answer: B
- Growing a single crop over a large area is called: A. Crop rotation B. Intercropping C. Monoculture D. Agroforestry Answer: C
- A 10 hectare field produces 70 tonnes of rice. The yield per hectare is: A. 7 tonnes per hectare B. 70 tonnes per hectare C. 700 tonnes per hectare D. 0.7 tonnes per hectare Answer: A
- The enrichment of a river with leached fertiliser, causing algae to bloom and oxygen to fall, is called: A. Salinisation B. Eutrophication C. Desertification D. Leaching Answer: B
- Which strategy uses a natural predator to keep a pest under control? A. Herbicide spraying B. Inorganic fertiliser C. Biological control D. Mechanisation Answer: C
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
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