| Date | May 2022 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 22M.1.SL.TZ0.6 |
| Level | Standard Level | Paper | Paper 1 | Time zone | Time zone 0 |
| Command term | Explain | Question number | 6 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Figure 8(c): Conversion to cropland from other land uses in
north-eastern Costa Rica (1986–2011)
[Source: Data from: Fagan, M.E., DeFries, R.S., Sesnie, S.E., Arroyo, J.P., Walker, W. Soto, C., Chazdon, R.L., and
Sanchun, A., 2013. Land cover dynamics following a deforestation ban in northern Costa Rica. Environ. Res. Lett.
[e-journal] (8)034017 http://doi:10.1088/1748-9326/8/3/034017. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons
Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/.]
Explain how the production of cash crops (such as pineapples) may have an environmental impact on soil.
Explain how the production of cash crops (such as pineapples) may have an environmental impact on lakes or rivers.
With reference to Figure 8(c), identify where most of the additional land for growing crops came from between 1986 and 2011.
Markscheme
intensive agriculture/monoculture results in soil nutrient depletion/reduction in organic matter;
deforestation for plantations leaves the soil bare contributing to soil erosion;
tillage/ploughing can leave soil prone to erosion;
excessive use of pesticides leading to soil toxification;
use of fertilizers increases soil productivity;
use of fertilizers/leaching of nutrients can lead to eutrophication/algal blooms;
use of pesticides can lead to contamination of aquatic systems/death of non-target organisms/bioaccumulation;
over-abstraction of water for agriculture use may lead to low water levels (in rivers/lakes adversely affecting fish/aquatic species);
soil erosion into lakes/rivers could increase sedimentation/reduce water clarity;
Note: For credit the cause and effect needs to be linked.
(conversion of) pasture land;
Examiners report
Responses were highly variable for this question. A common error was not to link the cause to the effect on the soil or give very generic responses e.g. stating that soil is eroded without an explanation of the cause.
Most candidates answered this question well. A popular correct response was to link use of fertilizers to the problem of eutrophication in lakes and rivers.
Most candidates correctly identified pasture land.
