Unit 5 Key Terms Flashcards
1
Q
What is crop rotation?
A
The practice of alternating the species of crops grown on a particular piece of land to improve soil health and reduce pests.
2
Q
What is a food chain?
A
A linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.
3
Q
What are chemical pesticides?
A
Substances used to kill or control pests that harm crops.
4
Q
What is a food web?
A
A complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem.
5
Q
What is human ecology?
A
The study of the relationship between humans and their natural, social, and built environments.
6
Q
What are chemical fertilizers?
A
Synthetic substances added to soil to promote plant growth.
7
Q
What are hybrids?
A
Plants or animals that are the offspring of two different species or varieties.
8
Q
What are incentives?
A
Factors that motivate individuals or organizations to perform certain actions.
9
Q
What are quotas?
A
Limits on the amount of a product that can be produced or imported.
10
Q
What was the Columbian Exchange?
A
The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World.
11
Q
What is relocation diffusion?
A
The spread of a cultural trait or innovation through the movement of people.
12
Q
What are communes?
A
Collective living arrangements where resources and responsibilities are shared among members.
13
Q
What are growing areas?
A
Regions where specific crops are cultivated due to favorable conditions.
14
Q
What is The Communist Manifesto?
A
A political pamphlet by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels that outlines the principles of communism.
15
Q
What is animal husbandry?
A
The science of breeding and caring for farm animals.
16
Q
What is income disparity?
A
The unequal distribution of income within a population.
17
Q
What is animal domestication?
A
The process of adapting wild animals for human use.
18
Q
What does feudal refer to?
A
A social system in medieval Europe where land was held by lords and worked by vassals.
19
Q
What are hearths of domestication?
A
Regions where specific plants and animals were first domesticated.
20
Q
What is export?
A
The act of sending goods or services to another country for sale.
21
Q
What is domestic consumption?
A
The use of goods and services within a country.
22
Q
What is horticulture?
A
The art and science of growing fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
23
Q
What is domestication of plants?
A
The process of adapting wild plants for human use.
24
Q
What are commercial crops?
A
Crops grown primarily for sale rather than for personal use.
25
What is plantation agriculture?
A form of commercial farming where crops are grown on large estates.
26
What is seed agriculture?
The practice of planting seeds to grow crops.
27
What is vegetative planting?
The reproduction of plants by cloning from existing plants.
28
What is cash cropping?
The cultivation of crops for direct sale in the market.
29
What are specialized crops?
Crops that are grown for specific markets or purposes.
30
What are mineral salts?
Inorganic substances essential for plant growth.
31
What is soil salinization?
The accumulation of soluble salts in soil, which can hinder plant growth.
32
What is food preservation?
Methods used to prevent food from spoiling.
33
What is desertification?
The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.
34
What is arable land?
Land suitable for growing crops.
35
What is physiologic density?
The number of people per unit area of arable land.
36
What is extensive subsistence agriculture?
A type of farming that requires large amounts of land to produce enough food for a family.
37
What is overgrazing?
The practice of allowing livestock to graze too much vegetation, leading to land degradation.
38
What is population pressure?
The strain on resources due to an increasing population.
39
What is extensive pastoralism?
A form of agriculture where livestock are raised over large areas of land.
40
What is subsistence agriculture?
Farming that provides enough food for the farmer and their family, but not for sale.
41
What does fallow mean?
Land that is left unplanted for a period to restore its fertility.
42
What is general farming?
A farming system that produces a variety of crops and livestock.
43
What is slash and burn agriculture (swidden)?
A method of agriculture where land is cleared by cutting and burning vegetation.
44
What is mixed farming?
A farming system that combines crop cultivation and livestock raising.
45
What is biodiesel?
A renewable fuel made from biological materials, such as vegetable oils or animal fats.
46
What is a staple crop?
A crop that is a primary source of calories for a population.
47
What is ethanol?
A type of alcohol used as a biofuel, often produced from corn or sugarcane.
48
What is monoculture?
The agricultural practice of growing a single crop over a wide area.
49
What is multi-cropping?
The practice of growing multiple crops in the same space during a single growing season.
50
What are alternative energy crops?
Crops grown specifically for the production of renewable energy.
51
What is animal feed?
Food given to domestic animals, often formulated for their nutritional needs.
52
What are cultivars?
Varieties of plants that have been selectively bred for specific characteristics.
53
What are textiles?
Materials made from fibers, used for making clothing and other goods.
54
What is nomadic herding?
A form of pastoralism where herders move with their livestock to find fresh pastures.
55
What is sustainability?
The ability to maintain ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources.
56
What is pastoralism?
A form of agriculture focused on raising livestock.
57
What is sustainable yield?
The amount of renewable resource that can be harvested without compromising future availability.
58
What is inter-planting?
The practice of growing two or more crops in proximity for various benefits.
59
What is transhumance?
The seasonal movement of livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures.
60
What are hunting and gathering societies?
Communities that rely on wild resources for food rather than agriculture.
61
What is conservation agriculture?
An approach to farming that promotes minimal soil disturbance and crop diversity.
62
What is extensive agriculture?
A farming system that uses large areas of land with low input of labor and capital.
63
What is Conservation?
The protection and management of natural resources.
64
What is irrigation?
The artificial application of water to soil to assist in the growing of crops.
65
What is intensive agriculture?
A farming system that uses high levels of inputs and labor to maximize output.
66
What is domestic product (GDP)?
The total value of all goods and services produced within a country in a given period.
67
What does gross refer to?
The total amount before any deductions.
68
What are aquifers?
Underground layers of water-bearing rock that can yield water.
69
What is winter wheat?
A type of wheat planted in the fall and harvested in the spring or summer.
70
What is employment?
The condition of having paid work.
71
What is spring wheat?
A type of wheat planted in the spring and harvested in late summer.
72
What is primary economy?
An economy based on the extraction of natural resources.
73
What are Third-World countries?
Nations with lower economic development, often characterized by poverty.
74
What is the demographic transition model?
A model that describes population change over time through stages of development.
75
What is triple cropping?
The practice of growing three crops in a single year on the same land.
76
What is the growing season?
The period during which crops can be grown due to favorable climate conditions.
77
What is double cropping?
The practice of growing two crops in the same field during a single growing season.
78
What is mechanization?
The use of machinery in agricultural processes.
79
What are tractors?
Vehicles used for pulling farm machinery and equipment.
80
What are dwarf varieties?
Plant varieties that are shorter in stature, often bred for higher yields.
81
What was the Green Revolution?
A period of agricultural transformation that increased food production worldwide.
82
What are irrigation pumps?
Devices used to move water for agricultural irrigation.
83
What is expanded food production?
The increase in the quantity of food produced.
84
What are economies of scale?
Cost advantages gained by an increased level of production.
85
What are Brahman cattle?
A breed of cattle known for their adaptability and heat tolerance.
86
What is genetic engineering?
The direct manipulation of an organism's genes using biotechnology.
87
What is biotechnology?
The use of living systems and organisms to develop products.
88
What is factory farming?
A system of large-scale industrialized and intensive agriculture.
89
What is BT corn?
Corn genetically modified to express a bacterial protein that is toxic to certain pests.
90
What is Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH)?
A synthetic hormone used to increase milk production in dairy cows.
91
What are antibiotics?
Medications used to treat bacterial infections in animals.
92
What is extensive monoculture of staple crops?
The large-scale cultivation of a single crop type over a wide area.
93
What are commodity prices?
The market price for raw agricultural products.
94
What is corporate agriculture (agribusiness)?
Large-scale farming operations that are often run as businesses.
95
What are downer cattle?
Cattle that are unable to stand or walk, often due to illness or injury.
96
What are specialized farm products?
Unique agricultural products that cater to specific markets.
97
What are genetically modified organisms (GMOs)?
Organisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering.
98
What is animal welfare?
The ethical treatment and care of animals used in agriculture.
99
What are natural food products?
Foods that are minimally processed and free from artificial ingredients.
100
What does sustainable mean in agriculture?
Practices that meet current food needs without compromising future generations.
101
What does organic mean in agriculture?
Farming practices that avoid synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
102
What is a cottage industry?
Small-scale, decentralized manufacturing that can be done at home.
103
What is an appellation?
A legally defined geographical indication used to identify where a product comes from.
104
What is Champagne?
A sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region of France.
105
What is Parmigiano-Reggiano?
A cheese made in Italy, known for its strict production regulations.
106
What is fair trade?
A trading partnership that seeks greater equity in international trade.
107
What are truck farms?
Farms that grow vegetables and fruits for sale in local markets.
108
What are suitcase farmers?
Farmers who live in one place but farm in another, often seasonally.
109
What is Mediterranean agriculture?
Farming practices typical of regions with a Mediterranean climate.
110
What is fresh milk?
Milk that has not been processed or pasteurized.
111
What is a milkshed?
The region surrounding a dairy where milk is produced and processed.
112
What is processed dairy?
Dairy products that have been altered from their original state.
113
What is ultra-high temperature (UHT) pasteurization?
A method of sterilizing liquid food by heating it above 135 °C.
114
What are embargoes?
Official bans on trade with specific countries or goods.
115
What does commodity-dependent mean?
Economies that rely heavily on the export of raw materials.
116
What is gross domestic product (GDP)?
The total value of all goods and services produced in a country.
117
What are commodity chains?
The series of processes involved in the production and distribution of a commodity.
118
What is the global supply chain?
The worldwide network of production and distribution of goods.
119
Who is Johann Heinrich von Thünen?
A German economist known for his work on agricultural location theory.
120
What is labor intensive agriculture?
Farming that requires a large amount of labor relative to land area.
121
What is the central place model?
A spatial theory in urban geography that explains the size and distribution of human settlements.
122
What are labor-intensive crops?
Crops that require significant manual labor for cultivation.
123
What are labor-intensive animals?
Animals that require a high level of care and management.
124
What are medicinal crops?
Plants grown for their therapeutic properties.
125
What are market gardens?
Small farms that grow vegetables and fruits for local markets.
126
What is a managed forest?
A forest that is actively managed for timber production and conservation.
127
What is a renewable resource?
A resource that can be replenished naturally over time.
128
What are labor-extensive crops?
Crops that require minimal labor relative to land area.
129
What is grazing?
The act of animals feeding on grass or other vegetation.
130
What are the highlands?
Elevated areas of land, often with distinct agricultural practices.
131
What is the cost-to-distance relationship?
The principle that transportation costs increase with distance.
132
What is the land-rent curve?
A graphical representation of the relationship between land rent and distance from the market.
