Video Transcript
Which of the following is not a
reason why farmers use fertilizers? (A) Growing crops more quickly, (B)
increasing the protein content in the crops, (C) growing larger crops, (D) restoring
depleted minerals in the soil, (E) supplying essential minerals used by crops.
Fertilizers are something that we
can apply to the soil that plants are growing in that provides them with essential
nutrients they need to grow. In addition to supplying plants
with essential nutrients, fertilizers also help plants grow larger faster. Also, as plants grow, they will
absorb nutrients from the soil. If we continue to grow plants in
the same area, over time, the nutrients in the soil will become depleted. And applying fertilizer to the soil
in those areas can restore the depleted nutrients.
So now let’s take a look through
our answer choices. We’re looking for the statement
that is not a reason why farmers use fertilizers. Well, answer choice (E), supplying
essential minerals used by crops, is the primary reason that we use fertilizers. So that can’t be the correct
answer. As we discussed, allowing plants to
grow larger faster is definitely a reason why fertilizers are used. So answer choices (A) and (C)
aren’t correct either. And fertilizers do restore depleted
minerals in the soil. So that leaves us with answer
choice (B), increasing the protein content in the crops. Well, it’s true that applying
fertilizers can allow plants to grow larger. They don’t change the plant in any
way, so they wouldn’t increase the protein content.
