Unit 5: Agriculture Flashcards
(60 cards)
agriculture
process by which humans alter the landscape to raise crops/livestock for consumption and trade
intensive ag
Involves significant amounts of labor/money, but usually uses a smaller amount of land
plantation
a large-scale commericail farm in a tropical or subtropical region that specializes in the production of one or tow crops for sale, often to more developed countries
extensive ag
Involves smaller amounts of labor/money, but uses a large amount of land
market gardening
the commerical production of vegetables, fruis, flowers, and other plants on a small scale
mixed crop/livestock
raising both crops and livestock on the same farm, where the crops are primarily used as feed for the animals
grain
the seed of a cereal grass, specifically harvested for human consumption
Intensive subsistence rice
a farming practice where farmers cultivate a small plot of land intensively to maximize yield, often focusing on rice cultivation
intensive subsistence not rice
maximizing food production from a small area of land through techniques like crop rotation and fertilization
mediterranean
a climate that is defined by its distinct seasonal temperature and precipitation patterns: hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters
dairy
the agricultural practice of raising livestock, primarily cows or goats, to produce and sell dairy products like, milk, cheese, and butter
shifting cultivation
a form of subsistence agriculture where farmers cultivate land for a few years, then move to a new plot to allow the original land to recover its fertility
nomadic herding
a type of extensive agricultural practice where herders move their livestock (goats, cattle, sheep) from place to place in search of pasture, often seasonally or according to environmental conditions
ranching
a type of agricultural practice where livestock, primarily cattle and sheep, are raised on large, open tracts of land
clustered rural settlements
a type of rural settlement where houses and farm buildings are located close together, with fields surrounding the settlement
dispersed rural settlements
a settle ment where individual farmhouses and buildings are scattered across a rural landscape with significant distances between them, as opposed to a clusered pattern
linear rural settlements
a settle ment pattern where buildings are arranged along a line, usually a road, river, or other transportation route
metes and bounds
uses natural features to domarcate irregular parcels of land
township and range
a land survey system, particularly in the midwestern and western united states
long lot
a method of land division where land is divided into long, narrow parcels that run back from a central feature, such as a river or road
agricultural hearths (where? types of crops?)
a region where domesticating wild plants and animals first occurred, marking the beginning of agriculture
mesoamerica: maize, beans, and other crops
1st agricultural revolution/neolithic revolution)
- shift from hunting and gathering to agriculture
- early hearths for dothe mestication of plants and animals include the Indus River Valley, Mesoamerica, and Mesopotamia
2nd agricultural revolution
- 1700s-1950s
- new technology and fuel led to improved methods of farming, harvesting, and storage of produce (coincides with the industrial revolution)
- led to better diets, longer life expectancies, longer populations, and more people available to work in factories
3rd agricultural revolution/green revolution)
- 1960s-now
- characterized by higher-yield, disease-resistant, faster-growing crops through technology (hybrid plants & GMOs)
- increased use of chemicals through pesticides and fertilizers
- elaborate irrigation systems
