Subject 3
Subject 3
Agriculture utilizes a range of external inputs (for instance, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides) to control, and in many cases, to increase yields. These inputs have a range of environmental effects, often detrimental.
CLICK HERE for agricultural and environmental interactions diagram
SUBJECT LIST
Farm pollution and waste: The potential for farms to pollute!
Learning Outcomes:
Quantify the magnitude of the potential pollution problem caused by agriculture
Explain three mechanisms for waste and pollution minimisation
Nitrogen & phosphates: Essential plant nutrients, but how much should we use?
Learning Outcomes:
Draw a systems type diagram of the nitrogen cycle
Explain mechanisms which may reduce the leaching or movement of N and P
Pesticides: Chemical control in agriculture
Learning Outcomes:
Describe the action of at least two pesticides in the environment
Formulate an opinion of the human health risks posed by the use of pesticides
Soil erosion: Preserving agricultures most valuable resource
Learning Outcomes:
Describe soil erosion processes and the mechanisms through which farming practices can influence rates of erosion
Suggest mechanism for reducing soil erosion on vulnerable sites
