Unit 5: Agriculture and Rural Land-Use Patterns and Processes (copy)

Primary economy

An economy based on natural resource extraction like timber, fisheries, and mineral and energy resources.

Intensive agriculture

Agricultural practice requiring high labor input, focused on small plots or both.

Extensive agriculture

Agricultural practice requiring limited labor input, spread over large areas of land, or both.

Transhumance

Seasonal movement of groups to avoid harsh climates and follow animal herds or native plants.

Pastoralism

Agriculture based on the seasonal movement of animals between pastures.

Nomadic herding

A practice where communities move herds from seasonal grazing area to another in an annual cycle.

Ranching

The practice of grazing livestock in a single large area.

Multi-cropping

Cultivating multiple crops to provide backup food supply in case one fails.

Monoculture

Farming practice where a single crop is grown extensively in a given area.

Subsistence agriculture

Intensive mixed farming that fulfills all food and material needs of a household.

Extensive subsistence agriculture

Farming with low labor per unit of land, often found in less populated areas.

Physiologic density

The number of people per unit of arable land.

Food preservation

Techniques such as drying, pickling, and storage jars, crucial for survival over time.

Cash-cropping

Extensive agriculture focused on crops exchanged for currency or goods.

Human ecology

The study of human interactions with nature.

Crop rotation

The practice of alternating the type of crop grown on a specific plot over time.

Sustainable yield

The amount of crops or animals raised without harming local resources.

Slash and burn agriculture

A farming practice where land is cleared by cutting and burning, then moved after nutrient depletion.

Desertification

The process by which fertile land becomes desert due to human activity.

Fair trade movement

An initiative ensuring small farmers receive fair prices for their products.

Aquaculture

The farming of fish in controlled environments for profit.

Dairying

Specialized agricultural activity mainly using cows, goats, and buffalo for dairy production.

Organic

Farming practices that avoid genetic engineering and synthetic chemicals.

Community-supported agriculture (CSA)

Programs that deliver farm products directly to consumers.

Von Thünen’s Model

A theoretical model explaining land use in agriculture based on distance from markets.