Food Production

Land use

100

i) Describe three different processes which take place in an arable farming system

• feeding of animals/pigs/ducks;

• digging/ploughing land;

• planting seeds/planting trees/orange trees/sugar cane;

• harvesting crops;

• spreading manure/fertiliser/fertilising the land;

200

Suggest how the land use shown in Fig. 11 may have been influenced by natural and human factors.

• Adequate temperatures for growth of crops;

• Sunshine for ripening crops;

• Sufficient rainfall for growth;

• Soils fertile enough to grow crops;

• Gentle slopes for cultivation/grazing

• Availability of local markets for products;

• Wealth of farmer/availability of capital for inputs;

• Availability of labour supplies;

• Tradition/culture;

• Level of education of farmers;

• Government policy/subsidies/quotas;

• Source of water for irrigation/source of water for ducks/fish;

• Land fragmentation;

300

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

Identify two pieces of evidence that the forest has been cleared in the area shown in Fig. 6.1.

Evidence such as:

Wood/branches on ground;

Tree stumps seen;

Plants are lower level than surrounding ones;

Vegetation is not so dense as surrounds;

Banana plants can be seen growing;

Areas of bare soil/ground can be seen;

400

Suggest three reasons why the vegetable gardens are closer to the village than the rice fields.

Vegetables need much more (regular) attention;

They can be protected from thieves/wild animals;

They do not need to be close to the river (like the rice does)/rice grows on

flood plain/rice needs more water/vegetables will not be flooded by the river;

They don’t need as much land/large fields;

Vegetables are harvested/picked more regularly;

The soil is well drained, etc.

500

Explain how physical factors (climate, relief and soil) affect agricultural land use.

Fertile soils are required for many crops;

Steep slopes are often used for pasture/too steep for

Crops/flat land used for crops;

lowland areas are often used for crops/upland for grazing;

Amount of precipitation will determine

which crops will grow;

sunshine needed for ripening of crops;

number of frost free days/length of growing season

influences choice of crops/some areas are too cold

to grow crops so animals are kept etc.

Agriculture types

100

Wheat and rice are two of the main outputs of commercial, arable farming. Explain the

meaning of

(i) commercial farming;

(ii) arable farming.

 (i) for sale/profit, [1]

(ii) crops, (reference to subsistence spoils)

200

 Farmers in central Scotland are commercial farmers. Explain why most farmers in MEDCs are commercial farmers

They are farming as a job/to earn money/to get a profit;

They produce large outputs/high yields/more crops;

They are able to use chemicals/fertilisers/pesticides;

Areas can be mechanised/they can afford equipment;

There is a large demand for products;

Good communications enable transport to market etc.

300

(b) Study Figs 8A and 8B (Insert), which show information about Bosnia–Herzegovina, a country in Europe.

(i) Using Fig. 8A, describe the locations of mixed farming, pasture and crops in Bosnia–Herzegovina.

mixed farming 

pasture 

crops 

Mixed farming: in north of country;

pasture: mainly in west;

crops: mainly in south;

400

 Suggest reasons why many farmers carry out intensive farming.

• they can make more profit/income/money;

• they produce higher yields/more per hectare;

• (they only have) small areas of land/don’t need much land;

• they can afford to buy fertilisers/machines/equipment;

• they have access to many workers;

500

Describe the advantages of mixed farming.

Animal manure can be used for crops;

Crops / crop waste can be used for animal feed;

Animals used to plough fields;

Farmers can use all types of land / e.g. fertile soils for crops and infertile

soils for grazing;

Work will be spread throughout the year;

Income will come into the farm at various different times;

Can adapt to changes in demand;

Enables crop rotation;

Increasing Yield

100

Overuse of fertilisers can cause river pollution.

Explain how fertilisers get into rivers.

due to, rain / irrigation;

fertilisers dissolve in water;

(surface) run-off;

infiltration / via ground water;

200

(b) Study Photograph C (Insert), which shows an agricultural area.

(ii) Suggest how food production could be increased in the area shown in Photograph C.

extend cultivation/farming area (to hills),

(extend) irrigation,

clear woodland,

diversify crops,

add pastoral,

increase intensity,

use more fertiliser,

mechanisation,

increase labour force,

new crop varieties/GM,

pesticides/herbicides,

300

Competition between weeds and crops is a problem for farmers because it reduces crop yield. Suggest how a farmer might reduce this problem.

ref. herbicides;

intercropping;

biological control or described;

physical removing of weeds;

use crops which are (faster growing/ outcompete the weeds /resistant to herbicides of the

weeds);

400

 Describe methods farmers in LEDCs can use to increase their agricultural output.

Use of fertilizers/manure;

Pesticides/herbicides;

Crop rotation/fallowing;

GM crops,

Better quality seeds/hybrid seeds (or example, e.g. IR8 rice);

Selective breeding of livestock/vaccination of livestock;

Use irrigation or example (e.g. Persian Wheel, sprinklers, build bunds, etc.);

Terrace hillsides;

Introduce machinery (or example, e.g. ploughs, harvesters);

Land reform/consolidation of holdings;

Greenhouses/glasshouses/cloches/covering crops with plastic;

Nets to keep off birds/scarecrows

Intercropping;

Mulching

Large scale growth of cash crops/plantations or example, e.g. sugar cane, oil

palm;

Education about improved techniques (or example);

Farming cooperatives;

Contour ploughing;

Wind breaks;

500

Explain how pesticides can cause problems for the environment.

decreases biodiversity / disrupts food webs / affects ecosystem;

harmless / beneficial, organisms, poisoned / killed;

other animals eat poisoned insects and die;

run-off into, rivers / lakes, leading to water contamination;

drifting / spraying, pesticides, causing air pollution;

may disrupt, wildlife / insect behaviour;

can remain in the environment for generations;

pesticide resistance may develop, increasing numbers of pests;

DDT named as dangerous pesticide;