8.1.6

Fertilisers

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Fertilisers

Fertilisers replace nutrients lost from the soil during harvesting and removing livestock to help maximise yields in agriculture.

Agricultural impacts on soil

Agricultural impacts on soil

  • Agriculture leads to depleted levels of nutrients in the soil (e.g. nitrogen and phosphates).
  • This is because when crops are removed for harvest, they are not decomposed and the nutrients are not returned to the soil for reuse.
  • Removing livestock for slaughter also decreases nutrient levels because they are not replaced by decomposition.
Using fertilisers

Using fertilisers

  • Fertilisers can be used to replace the nutrients (e.g nitrogen and phosphate) lost through agriculture.
  • Increasing nutrient levels by fertilisers allows farming to continue without negative impacts on the crop or livestock quality.

Types of Fertilisers

There are two types of fertiliser:

Artificial fertilisers

Artificial fertilisers

  • Artificial fertilisers (e.g. ammonium nitrate) are inorganic.
  • Artificial fertilisers are produced specifically for replacing nutrients.
Natural fertilisers

Natural fertilisers

  • Natural fertilisers (e.g. composted food waste, manure) are organic.
  • Natural fertilisers are taken from organic matter and used to replace nutrients.
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1

Unity & Diversity - Molecules

1.1

Water

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Unity & Diversity - Cells

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The Origin of Cells

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Introduction to Cells

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Ultrastructure of Cells

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Cell Division

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Structure of DNA & RNA

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2.6

DNA Replication, Transcription & Translation

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Cell Respiration

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Viruses

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3

Unity & Diversity - Organisms

3.1

Diversity of Organisms

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Evidence for Evolution

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Natural Selection

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Unity & Diversity - Ecosystems

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Classification

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Evolution & Speciation

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Conservation of Biodiversity

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Form & Function - Molecules

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Carbohydrates & Lipids

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Proteins

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6

Form & Function - Cells

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Membranes & Membrane Transport

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Gas Exchange

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Transport

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Form & Function - Ecosystems

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Species, Communities & Ecosytems

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Enzymes

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Photosynthesis

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Interaction & Interdependence - Organisms

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Integration of Body Systems

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Practice questions on Fertilisers

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Which of the following statements about fertilisers are true?True / false
  2. 2
    Which of these is NOT a use of fertilisers?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    What are the two types of fertiliser?Fill in the list
  4. 4
    Which of the following statements about types of fertiliser are true?True / false
  5. 5
    Which of these is NOT a feature of natural fertilisers?Multiple choice
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Nutrient Cycles

Eutrophication