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A group of unemployed young people in a rural community were granted 50 ha of land by a local chief to use to generate an income for themselves - NSC Agricultural Sciences - Question 3 - 2016 - Paper 2
Question 3
A group of unemployed young people in a rural community were granted 50 ha of land by a local chief to use to generate an income for themselves. They grew maize, whi... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A group of unemployed young people in a rural community were granted 50 ha of land by a local chief to use to generate an income for themselves - NSC Agricultural Sciences - Question 3 - 2016 - Paper 2
Step 1
Identify TWO economic characteristics of the land in the case study.
Answer
- The land is durable, which allows for sustained agricultural use.
- The land is subject to the law of diminishing returns, meaning, beyond a certain point, increasing the use of inputs like fertilizers will not proportionally increase yields.
Step 2
Explain the characteristic in QUESTION 3.1.1 that is associated with fertilisers and yield.
Answer
The law of diminishing returns states that while applying fertilisers initially increases yields, there comes a point where additional fertilizers lead to smaller increments in yield or potentially negative impacts on the harvest due to over-fertilization and soil degradation.
Step 3
Step 4
Indicate TWO ways in which the group of young people could increase the production potential of the land.
Answer
- By changing cropping systems or employing intercropping methods to enhance soil nutrients and reduce pests.
- By restoring land potential through techniques like halting erosion or implementing better water management strategies.