farming practices to increase efficency of energy transfer (NPP)

Question 1

what are the 2 ways to increase the NPP of farming

Answer 1

1. simplifying food chains
   which decreases energy lost to other organisms (e.g: pests)
2. decreased respiratory loss (R) in livestock to increase NPP

Question 2

how do you reduce respiratory loss in livestock

Answer 2

control living conditions

limit space + limit movement

warm environment = less energy used to generate body heat

reduces respiratory loss
increase in biomass
increase net productivity

Question 3

what are the ethical implications of controlling livestock living conditions

Answer 3

+ more food in less time
- limiting natural behaviours, distressing, painful

Question 4

give 4 ways to reduce amount of pests and explain how this has an impact on NPP

Answer 4

1. insecticides - kill insect pests = less crops eaten = increased biomass = increased NPP
2. herbicide - kills weeds
   decreased competition for light energy
   = increased GPP = increased NPP
3. remove pest habitats
4. biological agents (predator of pest, parasite that kills pests)

Question 5

how do pests have an impact on biomass

Answer 5

less energy available for plants to grow

decreased NPP

decreased biomass