5.1 Agricultural practices

Subsistence Farming

A type of agriculture where farmers grow enough food to meet the needs of their family, with little surplus for trade.

Commercial Agriculture

Farming practices focused on producing crops or livestock for sale, often involving high levels of labor, technology, and investment.

Intensive Agriculture

A farming practice that uses a significant amount of labor, money, and technology on a small area of land to achieve high yields.

Extensive Agriculture

A method of farming that involves large land areas and typically low inputs of labor and technology, resulting in lower yields per area.

Shifting Cultivation

A traditional agricultural practice that involves clearing land for temporary crop cultivation, often using a slash-and-burn technique.

Pastoral Nomadism

A form of subsistence agriculture where people rely on the herding and movement of livestock to access pastures.

Mixed Crop and Livestock Agriculture

Farming that combines crop cultivation with animal husbandry, providing diverse outputs and sustainable practices.

Plantation Agriculture

Large-scale farming specializing in a single crop, typically in warm regions, relying heavily on manual labor and often exporting products.

Tropic of Cancer

A circle of latitude located at approximately 23.5 degrees north of the equator, significant in agriculture and climate studies.

Tropic of Capricorn

A circle of latitude located at approximately 23.5 degrees south of the equator, marking the southern limit of the tropics.

Global Distribution of Agricultural Types

The geographical spread and patterns of different agricultural practices worldwide based on environmental factors.

Cereals

Grain crops that are a staple in many diets, including wheat, rice, and corn, commonly associated with various agricultural systems.

Cash Crops

Crops cultivated primarily for sale and profit rather than for personal consumption, such as cotton or tobacco.

Livestock Ranching

A major agricultural practice involving the breeding and raising of animals for consumption, including cattle, sheep, and goats.

Oil-Bearing Crops

Crops grown for their oil, such as sunflowers and soybeans, used in food production and various industries.

Roots and Tubers

Edible underground parts of plants, such as potatoes and yams, often grown in subsistence agriculture.

Fruits and Vegetables

Edible parts of plants cultivated for consumption, playing a major role in balanced diets and agricultural diversity.