Artificial Control Of The Environment
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What is a limiting factor in agriculture
Any condition or resource that restricts the growth and productivity of crops or livestock
Biotic factors that may affect food production
Disease Pests Pollinators Weeds
Abiotic factors that may affect food production
Temperature Soil pH Water availability Light availability humidity Nutrient availability
Why would you want to manipulate temperature
Promote photosynthesis Increase length of growing season Avoid frost Control evaporation rates
Examples of how temperature can be manipulated
Greenhouses Polytunnels Ventilation
Why would you want to manipulate light
Photosynthesis Trigger animal breeding/day length Longer day length - increased milk production
Examples of how light can be manipulated
Removing or adding lights
Why would you want to manipulate carbon dioxide
Photosynthesis
Examples of how carbon dioxide can be manipulated artificially
Buy CO2 canisters - pump into enclosed spaces Burn fossil fuels
Why is water important for plants
Photosynthesis Nutrients go into solution - taken up by plants Turgidity in plants
Why is too little water a problem
Lack of gas exchange Lack of nutrient uptake Lack of photosynthesis
What can be done to improve to little water
Irrigation methods Mulching Drought resistant crops Terracing Tide ridging
Why is too much water a problem
Roots become waterlogged Lack of gas exchange Soil biota - anaerobic Soil erosion
What can be done to improve too much water
Drip irrigation Improved drainage systems Cover crops Addition of sand - increases drainage
Why would you want to manipulate wind velocity and what are the benefits
Prevent soil erosion Reduce crop damage Increase rate of evaporation - reduce water losses Benefits: Seed dispersal Dispersal of disease Dispersal of pollen
Examples of how wind velocity can be reduced
Windows Rows of trees Cover crops Windbreakers Multicropping
What do we mean by nutrients
A substance that provides nourishment Different nutrients are required for different biological processes
What are macronutrients
Nutrients that are needed in larger amounts E.g. nitrogen
Function of nitrogen in the plant
Protein synthesis Nitrogen cycle
Form that plants absorb nitrogen
Ammonium ions Nitrates, nitrites
Function of phosphorus in the plant
Used in ATP for photosynthesis Cell division Energy transfer
Form that plants absorb phosphorus
Dehydrogen phosphate
Function of potassium in the plant
Movement of water and nutrients Enzyme activation
Form that plants absorb potassium
K+