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Impact of Agricultural Practices on Biodiversity - Coggle Diagram
Impact of Agricultural
Practices on Biodiversity
Caused
reduction in
biodiversity
significant reduction
in numbers
local
extinction
some promoted
biodiversity
developing variety
of habitats
providing different
food sources
Polyculture
D: growing of a range of different
crops at one time or sequentially
in the same place
advantages
wider range of
food sources + habitats for
wildlife
Crop
Rotation
type of
polyculture
planting different types of
crops, in the same field, over
a period of years
helps
conserve soil fertility
as different crops make different
demands on soil
reduces
likelihood of a
build
up of pests
specific to 1 crop
in an area
Monoculture
D: growing of only 1 species of
crop in a particular area
intensive farming that
maximises food production
(also ecological costs)
negatives
minerals rapidly depleted in soil
species crop - specific minerals
crop always harvested before
process of decay + mineralisation
can take place + return minerals to soil
encourages establishment of
pests specific to crops + weeds
pests have ongoing unlimited food
supplies
potential to become established in large numbers
reduces biodiversity
one species grown
animal biodiversity - reduce variety
of food available
increased use of artificial fertilisers,
pesticides + herbicides
artificial fertilisers
high level of nitrate to encourage
fast crop growth
allow target crop to outcompete/eliminate slower growing plant species
lead to soil erosion + eutrophication of waterways
pesticides
kill other organisms involved in
decomposition
can eliminate natural predators of main pest - pests resurgence
most harmful when
same crop grown in same
field year after year
Hedgerow Conservation
and Management
problems
=
poor hedgerow
management
cut too frequently or
at wrong time of year
loss of hedgerow tress through
death or cut without being
re-planted
damage
through overgrazing
neglect or over-grazing result
in developing gaps
hedgerows cleared
produce larger fields
(more suitable for efficient planting + harvesting crops)
causes
increased soil erosion
land being more exposed to
wind and rain
soil less bound together through
loss of plant roots (help bind together)
increasing land
available for agri purposes
easier + more efficient cultivation
with large modern machinery
significant reduction in hedgerows
for agri + development reasons
loss of hedgerows leads to
loss of
biodiversity
- loss of habitat + food
promote
biodiversity
largely developed to
form barriers to restrict
movement of farm animals
provide habitat for
many species
uncultivated margins provide
species-rich habitats
'wildlife corridors' link areas of
woodland + facilitate migration
and dispersal of species
provide shelter + food
for species
nesting sites
for birds
reduces soil erosion by
protecting it from wind + rain
conservation and
management
planting of new/restoration & maintenance of existing
help support biodiversity
allow trees grow to
maturity at intervals
trimming 2-3yr rotation
(produce berries - food for birds)
range hedge heights + widths
by staggering trimming regimes
cut A-shaped
(more light penetrate to ground level)
new - protect from grazing
double fence - later removed
plant mixture of woody species
(avoid monoculture)
Predator Strips of
Field Margins
promote
biodiversity
increase
habitats
increase range
of plants
increase no. of insect
species (predators)
support food
chains
what are
they?
area land left undisturbed
to encourage development
of new habitats
support biodiversity
no fertilisers
allowed to return to nature
why called
predator strips?
encourages increase in number of crop pests' natural predators
(carabid beetles/ladybirds + feed on aphids)
Integrated Pest Management
and Biological Control
problem
intense faming
build up of pests
overuse pesticides
pesticides harmful
reduce biodiversity
kill NON-TAREGT organisms
as well as intended
lead to pest resurgence
harm non-pest species (bees etc)
or predators (beetles/ladybirds)
D: harmful chemicals that pose
a risk to health - nonbiodegradable
herbicides
(weeds/competitor plants)
insecticides
(kill insects)
fungicides
(kill fungal parasites affecting
crop plants)
remove soil organisms
involved in decomposition
of organic matter
improving soil stricture + fertility
reduce plant species + animal diversity
arable weeds in crops
reduce food animals
Integrated Pest Management
(IPM) Scheme
D: long term strategy
involving range of methods
to reduce damage caused by pests
to economically acceptable level
lead to decrease in use of pesticides
traditional, less intensive farming
crop rotation - absence of crops prevents
build-up of large pest population (cannot complete life cycle)
set aside land - encourage predators
crop varieties that have degree of
pest resistance
- developed through:
trad breeding methods
genetically modified technologies
use of narrow spectrum, biodegradable pesticides
(not really exist)
target only pest
not lead bioaccumulation of
harmful chemicals
biological control
encourage natural predators
(beetle banks/predator strips)
sterilisation of male species
no offspring
very specific