Key learning points

1. Farmers use chemicals called fertilisers to produce more crops.
2. Farmers use chemicals called pesticides to produce more crops.
3. Some pesticides kill insects and this helps crops to grow because they are not being eaten.
4. Some pesticides kill other plants (weeds) that compete with the crops to grow.
5. Fertilisers and pesticides can be harmful to the environment and wildlife.

Keywords

• Fertiliser - Fertilisers are minerals that are added to the soil to help plants to grow.

• Pesticide - Pesticides are chemicals that are used to kill organisms such as insects and weeds, which prevent crop growth.

• Organic - Organic farming only uses chemicals that come from other living things (are not man-made).

• Herbicide - Herbicides are a type of pesticide. They kill plants. They are sometimes also known as weedkillers.

• Insecticide - Insecticides are a type of pesticide. These chemicals kill insects.

Common misconception