Physical+Factors+affecting+food+productivity

﻿Physical Factors affecting food productivity

For example, Moderate climate change will likely increase yields of North American rain fed agriculture, but with smaller increases and more spatial variability than in earlier estimates. Most studies project likely climate-related yield increases of 5-20 percent over the first decades of the century, with the overall positive effects of climate persisting through much or all of the 21st century.

It is determine by the rainfa ll and average temperature experienced in that place. In general, output is higher in areas with high temperature and rainfall because such conditions are more fa vorable for plant growth. Hence they grow well in the temperate region, where temperature and rainfall are lower than in the tropics. Such crops are grown in these regions to achieve high productivity. In order to achieve a high output per unit area, the climate of the place must be suitable for the rearing of fish and livestock.

Relief- Relief refers to the physical height and slope of the land. Therefore, gentler or flat relief is more efficient in producing more food than steep relief because water which is imp ortant to crop cultivation is less likely to runoff quickly on gentler slope than on steeper slope. Soil erosion is therefore also less likely to occur and so the nutrients in the soil will not be lost. Also, it is also more easy for farmers to transport and operate heavy machines on gentle or flat relief which can make harvesting crop easier . For example, in one of the world’s major farming areas, the Canadian Prairies, the flat relief enables machines such as tractors and harvesters to be used with ease. The use of such machines greatly reduces the need for labour which results in a higher productivity. However, in regions where the relief is steep, it is still possible for people to cultivate by using terracing. However, the productivity will be lower even if there’s a lot of land as additional labour is required. But, some crops, such as tea, grow well on sloping land which has well-drained soil. Hence, productivity of such crops is high there.

Soil- Productivity also depends on how fertile the soil is. Fertility depends on the amount of air, water and nutrients present in it. Nutrients in soil consist of minerals, such as phosphorus, iron and zinc which are helpful for plant growth which can increase the productivity rate. However, the amount of minerals found in soil vary from one place to another. This influences the fertility of the soil, hence affecting the productivity of food. Therefore, places with very fertile soil is able to grow crops which is more healthy and the productivity rate is also high so even if a small land with fertile soil can have a higher productivity rate of a huge land with very little fertile soil. Moreover, if the soil is fertile, there’s less need for waiting time for the land. Farmers are then able to produce more crops without the need of setting time for the land to fallow. Apart from fertility of the soil, productivity also depends on whether the type of soil is suitable for the crops grown. For example, wet rice grows well in wet and clayey soil. Thus, wet rice is most likely to be found on floodplains and river deltas where wet and clayey soil is commonly found to ensure maximum productivity

Climate- Climate refers to the conditions of a specific place over a considerable period of time, usually 30 to 35 years. It is determine by the rainfall and average temperature experienced in that place. Both factors are very important in food production because they determine the type of crop that is able to grow in that area and the productivity of it. Generally, places with high temperature and high rainfall is more favorable for higher productivity because plants grow better in this conditions. It is also the reason why crop is able to grown throughout the year even in tropical climate. Often, farmers are able to produce more than two successive crops in a year on the same field yielding a higher output and is therefore more productive. However, there are also exceptions. Potatoes and wheat are some example of crops which requires less water to grow hence they are able to grow better in temperate regions where temperature and rainfall are lower then in the tropics. This crops will therefore grow better and more productive than areas like the tropics. Climate is also an important factor for fish and livestock farming as well. Different variety of fishes and livestock requires different type of climate to ensure the highest output per unit area. Therefore if the area is small but the climate is right, it would also help to increase the output per unit area greatly as less fishes and livestock would die. For example, cool temperatures are required for the growth and reproduction of salmon. Thus, salmon farms are more commonly found in temperate countries such as Chile, Ireland, Australia and the USA as the these climate would ensure the most productivity.

Agriculture is highly sensitive to climate variability and weather extremes, such as droughts, floods and severe storms.

An increase in average temperature can 1) Lengthen the growing season in regions with a relatively cool spring and fall 2) Adversely affect crops in regions where summer heat already limits production 3) Increase soil evaporation rates 4) Increase the chances of severe droughts.
 * Temperature: **

Changes in rainfall can affect soil erosion rates and soil moisture, both of which are important for crop yields. Organizations predicts that precipitation will increase in high latitudes, and decrease in most subtropical land regions.
 * Rainfall: **

Done by: Jolyna, Zhang Rui, Liu Fan, Andrew, Hafiz, Jason

 Physical Factors that affect intensity of Food Production  Relief- Relief refers to the physical height and slope of the land. Therefore, gentler or flat relief is more efficient in producing more food than steep relief because water which is important to crop cultivation is less likely to runoff quickly on gentler slope than on steeper slope. Soil erosion is therefore also less likely to occur and so the nutrients in the soil will not be lost. Also, it is also more easy for farmers to transport and operate heavy machines on gentle or flat relief which can make harvesting crop easier. For example, in one of the world’s major farming areas, the Canadian Prairies, the flat relief enables machines such as tractors and harvesters to be used with ease. The use of such machines greatly reduces the need for labour which results in a higher productivity. However, in regions where the relief is steep, it is still possible for people to cultivate by using terracing. However, the productivity will be lower even if there’s a lot of land as additional labour is required. But, some crops, such as tea, grow well on sloping land which has well-drained soil. Hence, productivity of such crops is high there.  Soil- Productivity also depends on how fertile the soil is. Fertility depends on the amount of air, water and nutrients present in it. Nutrients in soil consist of minerals, such as phosphorus, iron and zinc which are helpful for plant growth which can increase the productivity rate. However, the amount of minerals found in soil vary from one place to another. This influences the fertility of the soil, hence affecting the productivity of food. Therefore, places with very fertile soil is able to grow crops which is more healthy and the productivity rate is also high so even if a small land with fertile soil can have a higher productivity rate of a huge land with very little fertile soil. Moreover, if the soil is fertile, there’s less need for waiting time for the land. Farmers are then able to produce more crops without the need of setting time for the land to fallow. Apart from fertility of the soil, productivity also depends on whether the type of soil is suitable for the crops grown. For example, wet rice grows well in wet and clayey soil. Thus, wet rice is most likely to be found on floodplains and river deltas where wet and clayey soil is commonly found to ensure maximum productivity.  Climate- Climate refers to the conditions of a specific place over a considerable period of time, usually 30 to 35 years. It is determine by the rainfall and average temperature experienced in that place. Both factors are very important in food production because they determine the type of crop that is able to grow in that area and the productivity of it. Generally, places with high temperature and high rainfall is more favorable for higher productivity because plants grow better in this conditions. It is also the reason why crop is able to grown throughout the year even in tropical climate. Often, farmers are able to produce more than two successive crops in a year on the same field yielding a higher output and is therefore more productive. However, there are also exceptions. Potatoes and wheat are some example of crops which requires less water to grow hence they are able to grow better in temperate regions where temperature and rainfall are lower then in the tropics. This crops will therefore grow better and more productive than areas like the tropics. Climate is also an important factor for fish and livestock farming as well. Different variety of fishes and livestock requires different type of climate to ensure the highest output per unit area. Therefore if the area is small but the climate is right, it would also help to increase the output per unit area greatly as less fishes and livestock would die. For example, cool temperatures are required for the growth and reproduction of salmon. Thus, salmon farms are more commonly found in temperate countries such as Chile, Ireland, Australia and the USA as the these climate would ensure the most productivity.