Unit 5 Flashcards
(29 cards)
What percentage of the U.S. population is involved in farming full time?
Only 2% of the U.S. population is involved in farming full time.
Define agriculture.
The raising of animals or growing of crops to obtain food for primary consumption by the farm family or for sale off the farm.
What was the First Agricultural Revolution?
The shift from hunting and gathering to societies that planted crops and raised animals for food around 8,000 B.C.
What was a significant outcome of the First Agricultural Revolution?
Allowed humans to become more sedentary and have a more reliable food source.
What is animal domestication?
The process of taming wild animals for human benefit.
When did the Second Agricultural Revolution occur?
From 1750 to 1900 during the Industrial Revolution.
What technological advancements were used in the Second Agricultural Revolution?
- Cotton Gin (Eli Whitney)
- Combine
What was the impact of the Second Agricultural Revolution on productivity?
Increased productivity required a market to handle the increase in product, necessitating advancements in transportation.
What is the Third Agricultural Revolution also known as?
The Green Revolution.
What technologies characterized the Third Agricultural Revolution?
- Biotechnology
- Genetic engineering
- Increased use of chemical fertilizers
Define vegetative planting.
Removing part of the plant and putting it in the ground to grow a new plant.
Define seed agriculture.
Taking seeds from existing plants and planting them to produce new plants.
What are the two types of farming?
- Subsistence
- Commercial
What is subsistence farming?
Farmers produce the food that they need to survive on a daily basis.
What is commercial farming?
Farming of products for sale off the farm, usually in more developed countries.
What is shifting cultivation?
Moving of farm fields after several years in search of more productive soil.
What is slash and burn agriculture?
A process that leaves scars on the land and depletes soil quality.
What is crop rotation?
Planting different types of crops each year to replenish the soil with nutrients.
What is pastoral nomadism?
Moving animals on a seasonal basis to areas that have necessary resources.
What is intensive subsistence agriculture?
A type of agriculture that requires a lot of work, often done by hand or with animals.
What is intertillage?
The act of tilling between rows of crop plants.
What type of climate is required for Mediterranean agriculture?
A climate with a dry summer and a cool, moist winter.
What is specialized fruit production?
Large orchards dedicated to a specific fruit.
What is plantation agriculture?
Agriculture where the plantation is in an LDC, but the owner is in an MDC.
