U5 AP HuGeo Terms Review

Monocropping

Growing the same crop in the same place for many years, which can lead to more short-term produce but might harm the soil's nutrients.

Economies of Scale

Cost savings that larger businesses experience, where the cost to produce each item decreases as they make more items.

Commodity Chains

The series of steps involved in making and selling a product, from raw materials to the final product that consumers buy.

Value Added Crops

Crops that are processed or enhanced to make them more valuable and marketable, like through branding or packaging.

Desertification

When fertile land turns into desert due to factors like drought, cutting down trees, or bad farming practices.

Salinization

The buildup of salt in soil, usually from poor irrigation, which makes it harder for crops to grow.

Intensive Agriculture

Farming that uses a lot of resources and labor to get the most output from a small area of land, often leading to higher yields.

Extensive Agriculture

Farming that uses minimal labor and resources over large land areas, resulting in lower crop yields per area.

Subsistence Agriculture

Farming that only produces enough food to meet the needs of the farmer and their family, with no extra for sale.

Commercial Agriculture

Farming mainly done to sell products rather than for personal use.

Physiologic Density

The number of people living on each piece of usable land, which shows how much pressure the population puts on farming resources.

Agricultural Hearths

Areas where farming first began and from where various farming practices spread around the world.

Green Revolution

A time period in the late 20th century when new types of crops and farming methods were used to increase food production.

Terracing

Shaping land into steps on slopes to prevent soil erosion and improve water management.

Aquifers

Underground layers of soil and rock that store water, often used for watering crops.

Fair Trade

A movement focused on ensuring better trading conditions and fair prices for producers in developing countries.

Cash Cropping

Growing crops for sale rather than for personal use.

Agribusiness

The combination of industries involved in commercial farming, from growing crops to selling them.

Globalization

The process by which businesses expand their operations and influence internationally.

Sustainable Agriculture

Farming practices that satisfy current food needs while preserving resources for future generations.

Urban Agriculture

Growing food and raising animals in and around cities.

Rural Land Use Patterns

The different ways land is used in the countryside, influenced by culture, history, and the economy.

Intercropping

Planting two or more crops close together to gain various benefits.

Crop Rotation

Alternating the types of crops grown in a field to keep the soil healthy and reduce pests.

Transhumance

The regular seasonal movement of livestock between fixed summer and winter grazing areas.

Plantation Agriculture

Large-scale farming focusing on one or two cash crops for the global market.

Wet Rice Farming

Intensive farming focused on growing rice in flooded fields.

Horticulture

The practice of growing fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants.

Agricultural Practices

Various methods and techniques used in farming, which can include organic or conventional methods.

Food Security

Having reliable access to enough affordable and nutritious food.

Food Insecurity

Not having enough access to food.

Greenbelt

An area of open land around a city that is used for farming or kept natural to prevent urban sprawl.

Biodiversity

The variety of plants and animals in a particular area, which can affect farming methods.

Terrace Farming

Creating stepped farmland on sloped areas to minimize soil erosion and control water runoff.

Agroforestry

Combining trees and shrubs into farming systems for ecological and economic benefits.

Biofuels

Fuels made from organic materials (like crops) that can replace fossil fuels.

Fertility Rate

The average number of children a woman has in her lifetime, influencing the agricultural workforce.

Soil Erosion

The loss of topsoil due to wind and water, which can impact farming productivity.

Monoculture

Growing only one type of crop in a specific area.

Ranching

Farming focused on raising livestock, typically in vast, dry areas.

Dairy Farming

Farming that specializes in raising cows for milk and dairy products.

Commodity Dependence

When a country relies heavily on a few products for export, making its economy vulnerable.

Hydroponics

Growing plants in water instead of soil, providing them with nutrients directly.