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Flip to reveal answersIn ESS, why is agriculture described as a human-managed ecosystem?
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All 10 Flashcards — Terrestrial food production systems
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Question
In ESS, why is agriculture described as a human-managed ecosystem?
Answer
Because humans control inputs and outputs (seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, pesticides, machinery) to maximize food production, changing energy flows and nutrient cycling.
💡 Hint
Managed system with inputs/outputs.
Question
Agriculture system thinking: name the 4 parts often used to describe it.
Answer
Inputs, outputs, stores, and flows.
💡 Hint
Systems language.
Question
Give three common inputs to agricultural systems.
Answer
Examples: seeds/livestock, fertilizers (NPK), pesticides, irrigation water, fossil fuel energy, labour.
💡 Hint
Inputs = what goes in.
Question
Give one example of an agricultural input and one output.
Answer
Input: fertilizer or irrigation water. Output: harvested crops (and possibly runoff pollution).
💡 Hint
One in, one out.
Question
Give three common outputs from agricultural systems.
Answer
Food products plus wastes and impacts such as manure, crop residues, pollution runoff, and soil erosion.
💡 Hint
Food + waste/pollution.
Question
Name two examples of terrestrial food production types.
Answer
Crop farming and livestock farming (also mixed farming, plantation, agroforestry).
💡 Hint
Any two.
Question
What is plantation agriculture?
Answer
Large-scale farming of a single cash crop (monoculture), often for export, e.g., palm oil or rubber.
💡 Hint
Monoculture cash crop.
Question
Name four types of terrestrial food production systems.
Answer
Crop farming, livestock farming, mixed farming, agroforestry (also plantation agriculture).
💡 Hint
Different farming systems.
Question
Why can agriculture have large environmental impacts?
Answer
It uses large areas of land and water and can cause habitat loss, pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and soil degradation.
💡 Hint
Land + water + pollution.
Question
Name one reason agriculture contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
Answer
Examples: methane from livestock, nitrous oxide from fertilizers, CO2 from machinery and land-use change.
💡 Hint
CH4 / N2O / CO2.
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Full study notes for Terrestrial food production systems
Topic 5.2 hub
Agriculture and food
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