005 - Irrigation and Agriculture

Syllabus Point

Examine (AO3) the environmental impact of agriculture and irrigation on water quality: salinisation, agro-chemical run-off, the pollution of groundwater and the eutrophication of lakes, rivers and wetlands.

Key Terminology

• Examine
• Irrigation
• Salinisation
• Agro-chemical run-off
• Eutrophication

Define the terms above using your 'IB Geography. Course Book' by Cooke and Nagle, the command term posters in the classroom and the useful links below.

Useful Links

• Google Definition - Irrigation
• Google Definition - Salinisation
• OECD Definition - Agrochemical
• BBC Bitesize - Eutrophication

Activity One - Impact

As a group you will be divided in to four teams. Each team will be given an environmental impact of agriculture and water quality to research. As a team you will develop an information sheet on how agricultural methods can cause degradation of the quality of the water in freshwater channels.

Each sheet will need to include the following points:

1. Definition of the environmental impact.
2. Causes of the environmental impact - don't just say farming!
3. Example - Where? How did it specifically happen? What has been the impact? Can the impact be managed? Data, data, data!!

Useful Resources

Irrigation & Agriculture IB Geography Freshwater from geographypods

Activity Two - Review

Each team will leave their guide on a separate table and the other groups will rotate around them to review the information. As you review the information you will develop a revision card that will hopefully give you an idea of how to revise in the future.

• Remember you must include data.
• Collect a revision card

Exam Style Question

Discuss the environmental impact on water quality. (10 marks)