Natural and Artificial Fertilisers

• How does intensive food production make large demands on soil?

  As mineral ions are continually taken up by the crops being grown on it.
• Why does the concentration of mineral ions on agricultural land fall?

  As the urine, feces, and dead remains from the consumer are rarely returned to the same area of land.
• Why is it important to replenish mineral ions on agricultural land?

  Otherwise, it will reduce plant growth and productivity.
• What is used on the soil to offset the loos of mineral ions?

  Fertilisers.
• What are the two tyes of fertilisers?

  Natural (organic) fertilisers, and artificial (inorganic) fertilisers.
• What are natural fertilisers?


  Dead and decaying remains of plants and animals, as well as animal waste such as manure.
• What are artificial fertilisers?

  Rocks and deposits converted into different forms to give a balance of minerals such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
• How do fertilisers increase productivity?

  Where nitrate ions are readily available, plants develop earlier and have a greater leaf area, increasing the rate of photosynthesis.