AP HUG Unit 5 Chapter 14 Vocabulary

Land cover change

The alteration of the Earth's surface characteristics, such as clearing native forests for agricultural fields or urban settlements.

Pollution

The introduction of harmful substances or contaminants into the natural environment, degrading air, water, or soil quality.

Desertification

The gradual degradation by which fertile, semi-arid land becomes increasingly arid, dry, and unproductive due to human activities or climate shifts.

Soil salinization

The buildup of mineral salts in the upper soil layers, typically resulting from repeated irrigation in dry climates followed by high evaporation rates.

Terrace farming

An agricultural technique of cutting flat, step-like shelves into steep hillsides or mountainsides to slow runoff and reduce erosion.

Irrigation

The artificial application and controlled distribution of water to land or soil to assist in crop production.

Center-pivot irrigation

An automated watering system in which a radial pipe with sprinklers rotates around a central wellhead, creating circular field patterns.

Wetlands

Ecosystems where the land surface is saturated or flooded with water permanently or seasonally, supporting specialized aquatic vegetation.

Deforestation

The large-scale clearance and removal of native forest canopy, predominantly to convert the land to pasture, cropland, or settlement.

Slash-and-burn agriculture

A traditional shifting cultivation method where wild vegetation is cut down and burned to clear planting fields and temporarily replenish soil nutrients.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Crops or livestock whose DNA has been manipulated in a laboratory using modern biotechnology to introduce traits like pest resistance or drought tolerance.

Blue Revolution

The modern intensification, technological advancement, and global expansion of aquaculture to increase fish and seafood production.

Overgrazing

The practice of allowing excessive numbers of livestock to feed on grassland faster than the vegetation can regenerate, leading to soil degradation.

Organic food

Agricultural products grown and processed under ecological standards that prohibit synthetic fertilizers, chemical pesticides, antibiotics, and bioengineering.

Value-added crops

Agricultural raw commodities that are enhanced through processing, specialized handling, or packaging to command higher market prices.

Value-added farming

The agricultural business strategy of processing, packaging, or directly marketing raw goods to capture greater profit margins.

Local food movement

A consumer and agricultural trend advocating the cultivation, purchase, and consumption of goods produced within a short regional radius.

Urban farming

The practice of cultivating crops, keeping livestock, and distributing food within metropolitan boundaries or city neighborhoods.

Community gardens

Shared plots of land where local residents collectively cultivate fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs.

Vertical farming

An intensive indoor cultivation method in which plants are grown in vertically stacked layers under controlled environmental conditions.

Hydroponics

A soil-free cultivation technique in which plant roots receive nourishment directly from mineral- and nutrient-rich water solutions.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

A direct-to-consumer farm model where individuals purchase upfront subscriptions or shares of a farm's projected harvest to receive periodic fresh produce.

Food insecurity

The socioeconomic condition characterized by unreliable or inadequate access to sufficient, affordable, and nutritious sustenance for healthy living.

Food desert

A geographic area lacking accessible grocery stores with affordable, fresh produce, often saturated with convenience outlets and fast food.

Food distribution system

The integrated logistical network of transit, cold chains, warehousing, and wholesale channels that moves agricultural goods from producers to consumers.

Food processing

The transformation of raw harvested crops and animal products into consumer-ready goods through methods such as cooking, freezing, canning, and packaging.

Gender inequality

Disparities in social status, decision-making power, legal rights, and access to economic resources based on an individual's sex.

Gender-specific obstacles

Systemic cultural, legal, or institutional barriers that disproportionately hinder one sex, such as restricted land tenure or lack of agricultural credit for women.

Crop gap

The disparity between theoretical agricultural yield potential and actual harvested output, often driven by unequal access to technology, inputs