Unit 5 - Agriculture and Rural Land Use Flashcards
Agriculture
Definition: The practice of cultivating soil growing crops and raising animals for food and other products. Example: Farmers in the Midwest engage in agriculture by growing corn and wheat.
Central America
Definition: A region in the Americas connecting North and South America consisting of countries like Costa Rica Guatemala and Panama. Example: Central America has a tropical climate suitable for agriculture like coffee and bananas.
Agribusiness
Definition: Large-scale commercial farming operations that include all steps from production to distribution. Example: Companies like Monsanto are involved in agribusiness through the production of seeds and pesticides.
Columbian Exchange
Definition: The exchange of goods diseases and culture between the Old World (Europe) and the New World (Americas) after Columbus’s voyages. Example: The Columbian Exchange brought potatoes and maize to Europe and horses to the Americas.
Irrigation
Definition: The artificial application of water to soil to assist in growing crops. Example: Irrigation systems are used in the Middle East to grow crops in arid climates.
Climate Conditions
Definition: The long-term weather patterns in a specific area that influence agricultural practices. Example: The climate conditions in the Mediterranean region support the cultivation of olives and grapes.
First Agricultural Revolution
Definition: The transition from hunting and gathering to settled farming around 10000 years ago. Example: The domestication of wheat in the Fertile Crescent marked the First Agricultural Revolution.
Deforestation
Definition: The clearing or removal of forests to make way for agriculture or urban development. Example: Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest is driven by the expansion of agricultural land.
Intensive Farming Practices
Definition: Farming that requires high levels of labor and capital to produce large amounts of crops per unit of land. Example: Rice paddies in Asia often use intensive farming practices to maximize yields.
Second Agricultural Revolution
Definition: A period of agricultural innovation in the 17th and 18th centuries including crop rotation and the introduction of new tools. Example: The Second Agricultural Revolution led to the increased productivity of farms in Europe.
Wetlands
Definition: Areas of land that are saturated with water and often used for rice farming or aquaculture. Example: Southeast Asia’s wetlands are ideal for growing rice.
Shifting Cultivation
Definition: A farming method in which land is cleared for crops and then abandoned after a few years to allow the soil to regenerate. Example: Shifting cultivation is practiced by indigenous peoples in parts of Africa and South America.
Market Gardening
Definition: Small-scale farming aimed at growing vegetables fruits and flowers for sale in local markets. Example: Market gardening is common in suburban areas where farmers sell directly to consumers.
Green Revolution
Definition: A set of technological advancements in agriculture such as high-yield crops and chemical fertilizers beginning in the 1940s. Example: The Green Revolution greatly increased rice and wheat production in developing countries.
Pastoral Nomadism
Definition: A traditional way of life where people move with their herds to find grazing areas. Example: The Mongols practiced pastoral nomadism across the steppes of Asia.
Plantation Agriculture
Definition: A large-scale farming system focused on growing cash crops like sugar coffee and cotton typically in tropical regions. Example: Plantations in the Caribbean produce sugarcane for export.
High-Yield Seeds
Definition: Seeds genetically modified or bred to produce greater quantities of crops per unit of land. Example: High-yield seeds are used to increase rice production in India.
Biotechnology
Definition: The use of living organisms and biological processes to develop agricultural products. Example: Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a product of biotechnology.
Mixed Crop System
Definition: A farming system where multiple crops are grown together on the same land. Example: A mixed crop system might include wheat corn and legumes in the same field.
Mechanized Farming
Definition: The use of machinery like tractors and harvesters to perform tasks traditionally done by hand. Example: Mechanized farming has allowed farmers to significantly increase their crop yields.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
Definition: Organisms whose genetic material has been altered to achieve desired traits such as pest resistance or faster growth. Example: Bt corn is a GMO designed to resist pests.
Mixed Livestock System
Definition: A farming system that combines the raising of animals and the cultivation of crops. Example: In a mixed livestock system farmers may raise cows and grow grain on the same farm.
Subsistence Farming
Definition: Farming that is focused on growing enough food to feed the farmer’s family with little surplus for trade. Example: Subsistence farming is common in rural areas of Africa and Asia.
Aquaculture
Definition: The farming of fish shellfish or other aquatic organisms for food or other products. Example: Fish farms in Norway produce salmon through aquaculture.
Extensive Farming Practices
Definition: Farming that uses large areas of land with minimal labor and capital inputs per unit of land. Example: Wheat farming in Canada is an example of extensive farming practices.
Commercial Farming
Definition: Farming that is focused on producing crops or livestock for sale in the market. Example: Commercial farming in the U.S. focuses on crops like corn and soybeans.
Biodiversity
Definition: The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem. Example: Agricultural biodiversity includes a wide range of plant and animal species used for food production.
Family Farm
Definition: A small farm that is owned and operated by a family usually for subsistence or local markets. Example: A family farm might produce vegetables dairy and eggs for sale at local markets.
Fertilizer
Definition: Chemical or organic substances used to enhance the growth of plants. Example: Farmers apply synthetic fertilizers to increase soil fertility and crop yields.
Nomadic Herding
Definition: A form of pastoralism where people move with their herds to find grazing areas. Example: The Bedouins of the Middle East engage in nomadic herding of camels.
Monocropping
Definition: The practice of growing a single crop on a large scale often over many years. Example: Corn monocropping is common in the U.S. Midwest.
Synthetic Fertilizer
Definition: Artificially created fertilizers made from chemicals to improve soil fertility. Example: Nitrogen-rich synthetic fertilizers are often used to increase crop yields.
Ranching
Definition: The practice of raising livestock especially cattle on large tracts of land. Example: Ranching is common in places like Texas and Argentina where large herds of cattle are raised.
Monoculture
Definition: The cultivation of a single crop in a given area. Example: Large-scale wheat farming in the Midwest U.S. is an example of monoculture.
Pesticide
Definition: Chemical substances used to kill or control pests that threaten crops. Example: Farmers use pesticides to protect crops from insect damage.
Hinterland
Definition: The area surrounding a port or city that provides resources and goods for trade. Example: The hinterland of New York City includes the surrounding agricultural and industrial areas.
Global Supply Chain
Definition: The network of suppliers manufacturers and distributors involved in producing and delivering goods to the global market. Example: The global supply chain ensures that coffee beans grown in Brazil are sold worldwide.
Fungicide
Definition: A chemical used to kill or control fungi that threaten crops. Example: Fungicides are used to prevent diseases like powdery mildew on crops.
Rural
Definition: Areas characterized by low population density often focused on agriculture or natural resource extraction. Example: Rural areas in the U.S. have farms that produce food for urban populations.
Commodity Chain
Definition: The series of steps involved in producing processing and distributing a commodity. Example: The coffee commodity chain includes growing processing shipping and selling coffee beans.
Herbicide
Definition: A chemical used to kill or control unwanted plants (weeds). Example: Farmers use herbicides to control weed growth in fields of corn or soybeans.
Rural Settlement Patterns
Definition: The organization of human settlements in rural areas often based on land use or agriculture. Example: In rural India settlement patterns often revolve around farming villages.
Economy of Scale
Definition: The cost advantage that arises when production becomes more efficient as the scale of operation increases. Example: Large agribusinesses benefit from economies of scale by producing crops in vast quantities.
Urban Farming
Definition: The practice of growing food in urban environments often on rooftops or vacant lots. Example: Urban farming is becoming more common in cities like New York and Tokyo.
Clustered Settlement
Definition: A pattern where homes and buildings are grouped closely together. Example: Clustered settlements are common in rural villages in parts of Europe.
Carrying Capacity
Definition: The maximum number of individuals or organisms an area can support without degrading the environment. Example: The carrying capacity of a farm depends on factors like soil quality and water availability.
Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Definition: A system where consumers subscribe to receive a share of produce from a local farm. Example: In a CSA customers might receive a box of fresh vegetables every week.
Dispersed Settlement
Definition: A pattern where settlements are spread out over a wide area typically due to agriculture. Example: Dispersed settlements are common in rural parts of North America and Australia.
Bid-Rent Theory
Definition: A theory that explains how the price and demand for land vary with distance from the central business district. Example: Businesses will pay higher rents near the city center due to the accessibility it offers.
Linear Settlement
Definition: A settlement pattern where buildings and homes are arranged along a road river or other linear feature. Example: Linear settlements can be seen along major highways in parts of the world.
Von Thünen Model
Definition: A model that explains the location of agricultural activities based on their distance to the market. Example: The Von Thünen model suggests that high-value crops like vegetables are grown closer to markets while livestock is raised farther away.
Organic Farming
Definition: A method of farming that avoids synthetic chemicals and fertilizers using natural processes instead. Example: Organic farming practices include crop rotation composting and using natural pesticides.
Survey Methods
Definition: The methods used to measure and map land areas often to divide land for agricultural use. Example: The township and range survey system is commonly used in the United States.
Milk-Shed
Definition: The region around a dairy farm where milk can be produced and delivered fresh to markets. Example: The milk-shed around a dairy farm typically extends 100-200 miles.
Value-Added
Definition: Products that have been processed or improved beyond the raw product adding extra value. Example: Cheese made from milk is a value-added product in dairy farming.
Metes and Bounds
Definition: A system of land description using physical landmarks and directions to
Pollution
Definition: The introduction of harmful substances or contaminants into the environment. Example: Pesticides used in agriculture can cause water pollution if they run off into rivers.
Specialty Crops
Definition: Crops grown for specific markets or uses often with unique characteristics. Example: Specialty crops like lavender or truffles are grown for niche markets.
Township and Range
Definition: A system of land surveying used in the United States that divides land into a grid of squares. Example: The township and range system is used to allocate public lands for agriculture.
Land Cover
Definition: The physical and natural characteristics of the earth’s surface including vegetation water and urban areas. Example: Forests are a land cover type in many rural regions.
Fair Trade
Definition: A movement that ensures farmers in developing countries receive fair wages for their products. Example: Fair trade coffee guarantees that coffee farmers are paid fairly for their beans.
Long Lot
Definition: A system of land division that provides each family with a narrow strip of land extending from a waterway. Example: Long lot systems are used in parts of Quebec and Louisiana.
Desertification
Definition: The process by which fertile land becomes desert as a result of drought deforestation or inappropriate agriculture. Example: Desertification threatens parts of the Sahel in Africa.
Local-Food Movements
Definition: Movements promoting the consumption of food that is locally grown and produced. Example: Farmers’ markets in the U.S. are part of local-food movements.
Hearth of Domestication
Definition: The original place where a species of plant or animal was first domesticated. Example: The Fertile Crescent is the hearth of domestication for wheat.
Soil Salinization
Definition: The process by which salt accumulates in soil often due to over-irrigation. Example: Soil salinization is a problem in parts of Central Asia where irrigation is heavily used.
Dietary Shifts
Definition: Changes in the types of food people consume often due to economic or cultural factors. Example: Dietary shifts in developed countries have led to an increase in plant-based diets.
Fertile Crescent
Definition: A crescent-shaped region in the Middle East known as the birthplace of agriculture. Example: The Fertile Crescent includes parts of modern-day Iraq Syria and Turkey.
Conservation Efforts
Definition: Actions taken to protect and preserve natural resources. Example: Conservation efforts in the Amazon rainforest aim to protect biodiversity and prevent deforestation.
Food Insecurity
Definition: The lack of consistent access to enough nutritious food for an active healthy life. Example: Food insecurity is a major issue in regions of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Indus River Valley
Definition: The region around the Indus River known for its early agricultural practices and ancient civilizations. Example: The Indus River Valley was home to one of the world’s first urbanized societies.
Slash and Burn
Definition: A method of agriculture that involves clearing land by cutting and burning vegetation. Example: Slash and burn farming is common in tropical regions like Southeast Asia.
Food Deserts
Definition: Areas where access to affordable and nutritious food is limited. Example: Many urban neighborhoods in the U.S. are considered food deserts.
Southeast Asia
Definition: A region of Asia that includes countries like Thailand Vietnam and Indonesia known for diverse agriculture. Example: Southeast Asia is a major producer of rice rubber and palm oil.
Terracing
Definition: A farming technique where sloped land is converted into a series of steps or terraces to prevent erosion and grow crops. Example: Terracing is common in mountainous regions like the Andes in South America.
