1. The More….the Better by The Leaf Group

2. Do you know that … certain farm practices actually increase photosynthesis?

3. What are those practices? How do they increase photosynthesis?

4. Here’s what we found out:

5. Farming Practice No. 1: Plowing/harrowing breaks soil into clumps and form thick soil- water mixture. Click to see how plowing enhances photosynthesis

6. Farming Practice No. 1: Plowing/harrowing breaks soil into clumps and form thick soil- water mixture. Kills weeds that compete with crops for sunlight and water for photosynthesis.

7. Farming Practice No. 2: Irrigation provides crops with water. Click to see how irrigation enhances photosynthesis

8. Water is a raw material for photosynthesis and carries food and nutrients to different parts of the plant. Farming Practice No. 2: Irrigation provides crops with water.

9. How much water do plants need? rice plant: highest right after sowing and gradually decreases until just before harvest time. vegetables, potatoes and corn: least during the initial stage, highest during the development stages, and decreases when nearing harvest. Source: AQUASTAT

10. Click to see how fertilizers enhance photosynthesis Farming Practice No. 3: Applying organic or inorganic fertilizer provides Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium to crops.

11. Nitrogen provides proteins to cells and as enzymes control the rate of chemical reactions. Phosphorus is needed to form ATP, a high-energy molecule which is a product of light reactions during photosynthesis. Potassium is involved in the opening and closing of the stomata.

12. How do plants look without N, P, K? No nitrogen: yellow/green leaves, weak stem No potassium: poor flower and fruit growth No phosphorus: poor root growth Source: Modular Science Biology

13. More grains and Yes, photosynthesis has something to do with it! bigger fruits --

14. For additional info … Visit our class web site at http://www.geocities.com/photosyn

15. References 1.Carale, L. R., Galvez, E.R. & Reyes, R. L. (1999). Science and technology for a better life: Biology. (3 rd ed.) Makati City: Diwa Scholastic Press. 2.Carale, L. R., Galvez, E. R. & Reyes, R. L. (1989). Science and technology for a better life: Biology. (3 rd ed.). Makati City: Diwa Scholastic Press. 3.AQUASTAT: FAO’s Information System on Water and Agriculture http://www.fao.org/ag/AGL/AGLW/aquastat/water_use/index4.stm http://www.fao.org/ag/AGL/AGLW/aquastat/water_use/index4.stm For the Graphics 1.Beckett, B. & Gallagher, R. (2001).Modular science biology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2.Clip art images from Microsoft Office 2000 For the Text