Case Study- Agricultural System Flashcards
Location
South America,central eastern part of the continent
Capital —> Rio de Janeiro
Other cities —> Mato Grosso
Commercial farming
Human input
-labour/workers
—> over 100 in some large farms
-buildings/accomodation for workers
-machinery
—> tractors, combine harvester
-trucks for transportation of soybeans
-seeds
-fertiliser
—> nitrogen and phosphorus
- insecticide
- herbicide
-government influence
—>subsidized soybean production export tax removal for soybean from Brazil
- market influence
- high demand for biofuel and cattle food
Physical inputs
-land
—> 1000-2500 acres for a large soy bean production
-soil
—> fertile: arable farming
—>infertile: pastoral farming
Precipitation
-annual average 1500mm
Temperature
- average of 26c
Relief
- flat: easier for arable farming to take place
Processes
-clearing
—> create more farm space
-ploughing
—>turning over the land
—>preparing for planting seed
-planting
—>putting seeds into the ground in oct/nov
Fertilizing
—>make the soil fertile
Weeding
—>removing alien plants (plants other than you crop) from the field
Cultivating
-to care for and and grow crops
Harvesting
-collecting crops at the end of the season
—> March/April
Outputs
-profits
—> 1 metric ton worth $350
—> profits reinvested into the farm
-crops
—> soybean sold for biofuels
—>soy protein for animal farm
—> for human soy milk, tofu, soy flour
Issues
Deforestation
—>loss of animal habitat
—> soil erosion
Emission of greenhouse gases
—>global warming and climate change
Fertiliser
—>increase nitrogen level
—>eutrophication
Larger landowners dominate
—>small farmers can’t survive
—> community and indigenous population have been pushed off the land
Land isn’t increasing food available
—> soybean sold for biofuels and animal food
Recent changes
- subsidies to farmers who conserve rainforest and voluntary tree planting
- subsidies for low carbon farming techniques
- monitoring and finding meaning reduced use of hazardous pesticides and herbicides
