1. Ardrossan Academy Dead Earth
Subtopic – Agricultural Chemicals

2. I will be successful if I can :
Lesson Title: Agricultural chemicals
Learning Intention: I can explain why fertilisers help plants grow
Activity:
I will be successful if I can :
State why we need fertilisers and explain why they must be soluble in water

3. If we could no longer live on Earth, what would we need on our new planet?

4. How will we make sure our crops grow well?

5. Introductory Video Clips
Click on each of the following 3 introductory clips.
How commercial growers improve crop yield. (4min)
Creating a GM plant (1min 32sec)
Genetically modified tomatoes may have anti-cancer properties. (1min 49sec)

6. N, P, K Without these elements plants would not grow properly
Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium

7. Read the BBC news article on food shortage and discuss with your group.
Think...
Why do we keep needing more food?
Why do we need artificial fertilisers?
What are pesticides and why are they needed?
Can you see any problems that we will have to address in the future?
Can you think of any ways we could address these problems?

8. How do you think the fertilisers are taken in by the plant?
For a plant to take in a fertiliser through its roots, the fertiliser must be soluble in water

9. Which would be suitable as fertilisers?
Compound
No. of spatulas
Soluble/
insoluble
Ammonium Nitrate
Ammonium Phosphate
Calcium Phosphate
Lithium nitrate
Potassium Chloride

10. Fertilisers
Fertilisers contain mineral salts that help plants to grow well.
Many farmers use fertilisers.
There are artificial fertilisers and natural fertilisers like manure.

11. Herbicides Herbicides are sometimes called weed killers.
They kill weeds that would otherwise compete with the crop plants for light, water and minerals.
Modern herbicides are selective. This means they can kill only the leaves but not the actual crops.

12. Insecticides
Insecticides kill insect pests that may eat crop plants or spread disease.

13. Greenhouses
Greenhouse can be used to make sure plants have enough warmth, light and water.
Therefore can photosynthesis and grow quickly.
Great in Scotland as our weather isn’t great.
Would this be useful on another planet??

14. Carry out the fertiliser investigation