← Agriculture & Land Use syllabus

Northern IrelandAgriculture & Land Use

Soils and Plant Production

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What is soil made of, what are the main soil types, and how do their properties affect what can be grown?

The four components of soil, the physical characteristics of clay, sand, peat and loam, the factors and profiles behind Northern Ireland's soils, how particle size controls drainage, and how soil pH affects the crops that will grow.
A focused CCEA GCSE Agriculture and Land Use answer on the composition of soils, covering the four soil components, the physical characteristics of clay, sand, peat and loam, soil profiles, particle size and drainage, and how soil pH affects crop choice.
8 min answer →

How is a flower built to reproduce, how do wind and insect pollination differ, and why do bees matter so much?

The parts of a flower and their functions, the differences between wind-pollinated and insect-pollinated flowers, the process of pollination and fertilisation, and the role of bees and the impact of their decline.
A focused CCEA GCSE Agriculture and Land Use answer on flowers, pollination and fertilisation, covering the parts of a flower and their functions, wind versus insect pollination, the process of pollination and fertilisation, and the role of bees and their decline.
7 min answer →

How do plants make their food, why does that matter for life on Earth, and what are annual, biennial and perennial life cycles?

The word equation for photosynthesis and how to investigate the effect of light and chlorophyll on it, the importance of photosynthesis and rainforests for life on Earth, and the annual, biennial and perennial life cycles with examples.
A focused CCEA GCSE Agriculture and Land Use answer on photosynthesis and plant life cycles, covering the word equation for photosynthesis, investigating light and chlorophyll, the importance of photosynthesis and rainforests, and annual, biennial and perennial life cycles with examples.
7 min answer →

What does a seed need to germinate, and how are the root, stem and leaves built for their jobs?

The conditions needed for germination, the process of germination including the radicle, plumule, root hairs and cotyledons, and the functions of the root, stem and leaves related to plant structure.
A focused CCEA GCSE Agriculture and Land Use answer on plant biology and germination, covering the conditions needed for germination, the process of germination with the radicle, plumule, root hairs and cotyledons, and the functions of the root, stem and leaves.
7 min answer →

How do growers beat Northern Ireland's short season using greenhouses, polytunnels, hydroponics and composting?

Protected cultivation using glasshouses and polytunnels and its economic importance, the factors that can be controlled in a greenhouse, the advantages and disadvantages of hydroponics for world food production, and the environmental and economic benefits of composting.
A focused CCEA GCSE Agriculture and Land Use answer on protected cultivation and hydroponics, covering glasshouses and polytunnels, the factors controlled in a greenhouse, the economic importance of protected cultivation, the pros and cons of hydroponics, and the benefits of composting.
7 min answer →

Which nutrients do plants need, how do fertilisers supply them, and how does the nitrogen cycle keep soil fertile?

The roles of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in plant growth, how an NPK fertiliser bag is labelled, the nitrogen cycle including fixation, nitrification and denitrification, and the issue of keeping soil nutrient-rich under intensive arable farming.
A focused CCEA GCSE Agriculture and Land Use answer on soil nutrients, covering the roles of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, NPK fertiliser labelling, the nitrogen cycle with fixation, nitrification and denitrification, and maintaining fertility under intensive arable farming.
8 min answer →