human geo unit 5

Mediterranean climate

this type of agriculture/climate is practiced in regions with hot dry summers, mild winters, narrow valleys, and often some irrigation. common crops are figs, dates, olives, and grapes

tropical climate

A climate in which it is usually warm year-round and has enough rainfall to support lush vegetation.

intensive agriculture

practices in which farmers or ranchers use large amounts of inputs, such as energy, fertilizers, labor, or machines to maximize yields

market gardening

when fruits and vegetables are grown near an urban market and sold to local suppliers, stores, an restaurants. this type of farming is intensive and usually requires capital investments of greenhouses and fertilizers

plantation agriculture

a large commercial farm that specializes in one crop. mostly found in low latitudes with hot, humid climates and substantial rainfall. they are typically labor intensive and often exploit the low-wage labor available in nearby villages and towns

mixed crop livestock system

an intensive commercial integrated system that demonstrates an interdependence between crops and animals. on these farms, the majority of the crops are grains that are eaten by the livestock - to fatten cattle for slaughter or to feed dairy cows. the manure is used to help fertilize crops

extensive agriculture

use fewer amounts of inputs and typically result in less yields.

shifting cultivation

in this type of subsistent extensive farming, farmers grow crops on a piece of land for a year or two. when the soil loses fertility, they move to another field.

nomadic herding

this type of subsistent extensive agriculture is practiced in arid and semi-arid climate throughout the world. nomads rely on the animals for survival. animals such as cattle, camels, reindeer, goats, yaks, sheep, and horses provide meat for food and hides for clothing and shelter. practicians of this type of agriculture trade with nearby subsistence crop farmers

Ranching

the commercial grazing of animals confined to a specific area

Transhumance

the seasonal herding of animals from higher elevations in the summer to lower elevations and valleys in the winter

rural settlement pattern

**settlement pattern with** clustered or nucleated settlements with groups of homes located near each other in a village and fostered a strong sense of place and often shared services, such as schools.

clustered settlement pattern

clustered settlement pattern

dispersed settlement pattern

**settlement pattern where** farmers lived in homes spread throughout the countryside. In the US and Canada, governments promoted westward expansion by giving farmers 160 acres if they agreed to reside on it for several years. settlers utilized the wide open land to raise cattle

linear settlement pattern

**settlement pattern with** buildings and human activities are located close to a body of water or along a transportation route. this pattern along a river was common before industrialization because of the need for fresh water to irrigate crops.

rural survey method

includes long lot, metes and bounds, and township and range

metes and bounds

system where metes were often used for short distances and often referred to features of specific points, such as “from the oak tree, 100 yards north, to the corner of the barn”. bounds covered larger areas and were based on larger features such as streams or roads

township and range

system where rectangular plots of land were created

long lot

french system where farms were long thin sections of land that ran perpendicular to a river.

domestication

the process of changing plants or animals to make them more useful to humans

Fertile Crescent

oldest hearth of agriculture, where barley, wheat, lentils, and olives were grown.

Indus River Valley

agricultural hearth where barley, cotton, wheat, and peas were growth

Southeast Asia

agricultural hearth where mangos, taro, and coconut were grown

Central America

agricultural hearth where squash, peppers, maize, potatoes, and cassava were grown

Columbian Exchange

the global movement of plants and animals between afro-eurasia and the americas. europeans brought hundreds of plants and animals west across the atlantic ocean to the americas and took plants and animals back east

First Agricultural Revolution

the orgin of farming. it was marked by the domestication of plants and animals. much of the farming during this time was subsistence farming. it began in five hearths. **aka the neolithic revolution**

Second Agricultural Revolution

an agricultural revolution which began in the 1700s, used the afvances of the industrial revolution to increase food supplies and support population growth. agriculture benefited from mechanization and improved knowledge of fertilizers, soils, and selective breeding patterns

Enclosure Acts

a series of laws enacted by the british government that enabled landowners to purchase and enclose land for their own use

Crop rotation

the practice of planting different crops in a specific sequence on the same plot of land in order to restore nutrients back into the soil

Green Revolution

an agricultural revolution born out of science, research, and technology which continues today. this revolution expanded mechanization of farming, developed new global agricultural systems, and used scientific and information technologies to further previous advances in agricultural production. it was an effect of technological developments of core countries. **aka the third agricultural revolution**

high-yield seed

strains of crops that produce more food or yield from one farming cycle than other wild varieties

Hybridization

the process of breeding two plants that have desirable characteristics to produce a single seed with both characteristics

mechanized farming

the green revolution encouraged the transfer or machinery which assisted in production

Capital intensive agriculture

agriculture which heavily uses machinery, fertilizers, or pesticide inputs

Labor intensive agriculture

agriculture which requires lots of labor inputs

subsistence agriculture

crops are grown or animals are raised for consumption of its growers

commercial agriculture

agriculture with the intent to make profit or sell

monocropping monoculture

the act of growing or raising one type of animal or crop per season on a piece of land

bid rent theory

there is usually a distance decay relationship between proximity to the urban market and the value of the land, meaning the closer the land is to an urban center, the more valuable it is.

Feedlots

confined spaces where cattle and hogs have limited movement

agribusiness

the integration of various steps of production in the food processing industry such as research and development, processing and production, transportation, marketing, and retail of agricultural goods.

transnational corporations

businesses that operate in many countries

vertical integration

the ownership of other businesses involved in the steps of producing a particular good.

commodity chain

a process used by corporations to gather resources, transform them into goods, and then transport them to consumers

carrying capacity

the number of people that farmers can support given the available resources

Cool chains

transportation networks that keep food cool throughout a trip

Von Thunens model

an economical model that suggested a pattern for the types of products that farmers would produce at different positions relative to the market where they sold their goods

horticulture

a type of agriculture that includes market gardening/truck farming and dairy farming. these perishable items are the closest zone to the market in the von thunen model

comparative advantage

naturally occurring beneficial conditions that would prompt farmers to plant crops differently from those predicted by von thunen model

global supply chain

all the steps required to get a product or service to customers

luxury crops

crops that are not essential to human survival but have a high profit margin. examples are coffee and cocoa beans

export commodity

A product that is manufactured or grown in one country and then shipped to another country for sale or trade. It is an essential component of international trade and contributes significantly to the global economy.

Subsidies

financial support to farmers to safeguard food production

pollution

The presence or introduction into the environment of substances that cause harm or discomfort to living organisms or alter the natural balance of ecosystems.

land cover change

the study of how land is used and the impact of changing land use

desertification

land becoming infertile because of alteration of the natural vegetation in arid areas

soil salinization

when salts from water used by plants remain in the soil. it decreases a plants ability to uptake water and nutrients. this lowers yields and may render soil useless

conservation

conservation is the answer

slash and burn agriculture

is a farming method that involves the cutting and burning of plants in a forest or woodland to create a field called a swidden. The method begins by cutting down the trees and woody plants in an area.

terrace farming

an agricultural practice that suggests rearranging farmlands or turning hills into farmlands by constructing specific ridged platforms

irrigation

the process of applying controlled amounts of water to crops using dams, canals, pipes, sprinkler systems, or other devices rather than just relying on rainfall

center pivot irrigation

watering equipment rotates around a pivot and delivers specific amounts of water, fertilizer, or pesticides to the field.

deforestation

the removal of large tracts of forests

wetlands

low lying areas that contain a significant amount of water at or near the surface

biotechnology

a recent controversial innovation that is used to improve the quality and health of plants and animals. examples are GMO

genetically modified organisms

plants or animals that scientists have modified by extracting genes of one species and inserting them into DNA of another species. GMO can be more nutritious, resistant to weather and pest related damage, and less susceptible to spoilage

aquaculture

the practice of raising and harvesting fish and other forms of food that live in water

sustainability

using resources in a way that allows for future use

biodiversity

The variety of organisms in a location

fertilizer

A substance or mixture added to soil to enhance the growth and productivity of plants by providing essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

pesticide

chemical compounds that are used to kill pests, including insects, rodents, fungi and unwanted plants (weeds)

urban farming

the production of farm goods within an urban area with the goal of providing locally grown food.

community supported agriculture

brings producers and consumers in a partnership where consumers buy a share, or subscribe to a certain quantity of crops for a season. the food is made available to the consumer throughout the growing season

value added specialty crops

crops for which consumers are willing to pay more because of special qualities such as organically grown, rare plants, or grass fed beef/ free range chicken and eggs

fair trade

a set of business practices voluntarily adopted by the producers and buyers of agricultural commodities and hand-made crafts that are designed to advance many economic, social and environmental goals

local food movement

seeking out food produced nearby

food insecurity

households lack access to adequate food because of limited money or other resources

Gender inequality

the unequal opportunities, treatment, or rights of a person based on gender

Gender specific obstacles

discriminatory practices that prevent female farmers from reaching potential productivity: women are denied access to finance and capital, women are denied training and education, women are denied property ownership, women have limited mobility, and women lack political power