HUMAN GEOGRAPHY UNIT 5: AGRICULTURE AND RURAL LAND USE NOTES

What is Slash-and-Burn Farming?

A method of agriculture involving cutting and burning forests to create farmland.

Where is Slash-and-Burn Farming commonly practiced?

In the Amazon Basin by indigenous communities, contributing to deforestation.

What is Terrace Farming?

Agricultural practice of cutting steps into hills or mountains for flat farmland.

Name two regions where Terrace Farming is used.

The Philippines' Banaue Rice Terraces and the Andean Highlands of Peru.

What is Irrigation in agriculture?

The practice of diverting water to croplands.

Give an example of a modern irrigation technology.

Israel's drip irrigation technology.

What does draining of wetlands involve?

Transforming wetlands into farmland, often leading to reduced biodiversity.

Where have wetlands been drained for agriculture and development?

Parts of Florida’s Everglades.

What is Pastoral Nomadism?

A form of subsistence agriculture involving seasonal migration with livestock.

Which regions practice Pastoral Nomadism?

Mongolia and the Sahel region of Africa.

What is Intensive Agriculture?

A farming system that uses high inputs of labor and capital on small areas of land.

Provide an example of Intensive Agriculture.

Wet rice farming in Southeast Asia, such as in Vietnam and Thailand.

What characterizes Extensive Agriculture?

A farming system using low input over large areas.

Give an example of Extensive Agriculture.

Cattle ranching in the U.S. Great Plains.

What is Double Cropping?

A farming practice that involves harvesting two crops in one year.

Where is Double Cropping commonly done?

Southern China, with rice in summer and wheat in winter.

What is Intercropping?

The agricultural practice of growing two or more crops in the same field.

Provide an example of Intercropping.

Combining maize, beans, and squash in Sub-Saharan Africa.

What is Crop Rotation?

The practice of alternating different crops to maintain soil fertility.

Where is Crop Rotation commonly practiced?

In Midwestern U.S. farms, often rotating corn and soybeans.

What is Mechanized Farming?

Farming that relies on machinery rather than human labor.

Give an example of a location where Mechanized Farming is dominant.

U.S. commercial grain farms, like Kansas wheat farms.

What is Hydroponics?

A method of growing plants in nutrient-rich water instead of soil.

Where is Hydroponics commonly used?

In urban vertical farms in Singapore and greenhouses in the Netherlands.

What has changed in dietary habits in the U.S.?

There is a rising demand for organic produce and plant-based proteins.

What role do women play in agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Women make up 60–80% of the agricultural labor force in some regions.

What are some examples of food taboos?

Hindus in India avoid beef, while Muslims avoid pork.

What are GMOs and where are they commonly used?

Genetically modified organisms widely used in U.S. corn and soybean production.

What is aquaculture?

The farming of aquatic species, such as fish and shellfish.

Which country leads the world in aquaculture?

China.

What is organic farming?

Agricultural practice that avoids synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Where is organic farming rapidly growing?

In California, which leads U.S. organic sales.

What are Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs?

Local farming initiatives where consumers buy shares of a local farm's harvest.

Where are CSAs popular?

In urban U.S. cities like Portland and Austin.

What is a challenge associated with food insecurity?

High rates of food insecurity are seen in countries like Yemen and Somalia.

What are food deserts?

Areas with limited access to affordable and nutritious food.

What does suburbanization lead to?

Urban sprawl that replaces farmlands near cities.

What is an example of how climate affects agriculture?

Droughts in California impacting crop yields.

What is a significant economic challenge for agricultural businesses?

Dependence on government policies like subsidies can influence local economies.

What theory addresses urban farming practices?

The Green Revolution, which involved the introduction of new agricultural techniques.

What does the Von Thünen Model explain?

The relationship between land use and distance from a market.

What is an example of the Bid-Rent Theory?

High-value crops, like flowers, grown near cities due to high land prices.

What is the significance of agricultural hearths?

They are the centers of agricultural innovation and crop domestication.

What is desertification?

A process where fertile land becomes desert due to drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.

Why are subsidies important in agriculture?

They support domestic farmers and can impact international trade.

What challenges do global supply chains face?

Disruptions like those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.