Unit 5 Cumulative Vocabulary

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary terms related to agriculture, farming practices, and their impacts on society and the environment.

Agriculture

The practice of cultivating soil, growing crops, and raising animals for food, fiber, and other products.

Agricultural Production

A geographic area specialized in the production of certain agricultural products.

Bioclimatic Zone

A region defined by its climate and biological characteristics, influencing the types of agriculture practiced.

Extensive Agriculture

A farming system that uses large areas of land with low input of labor and capital per unit of land.

Intensive Agriculture

A farming system that uses a high input of labor and capital relative to the area of land.

Intensive Subsistence Farming

A form of agriculture where farmers grow enough food to feed themselves and their families, often characterized by high labor input.

Terracing

A farming practice that involves creating flat areas on sloped terrain to reduce soil erosion and manage water.

Double Cropping

The practice of growing two crops in the same field during a single growing season.

Commercial Farming

Agriculture undertaken primarily for sale and profit, often involving large-scale production.

Subsistence Farming

Agriculture that focuses on growing enough food to feed the farmer's family, with little surplus for sale.

Mixed (Crop and Livestock)

A farming system that integrates both crop cultivation and livestock raising.

Market Gardening

The small-scale production of fruits, vegetables, and flowers sold directly to consumers or local markets.

Small Plantations

Farms that grow crops on a smaller scale, often focusing on cash crops for export.

Monocropping (Monoculture)

The agricultural practice of growing a single crop species over a wide area for many consecutive years.

Mediterranean Agriculture

A type of agriculture characterized by dry summers and wet winters, often involving the cultivation of grapes, olives, and citrus fruits.

Horticulture

The science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, mushrooms, algae, flowers, seaweeds, and non-food crops.

Shifting Cultivation

An agricultural system in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily and then abandoned for new areas.

Swidden

A method of agriculture involving the clearing of land by burning, followed by cultivation and then abandonment.

Fallow

Land that is plowed but left unseeded during a growing season to restore its fertility.

Multicropping

The practice of growing two or more crops in the same space during a single growing season.

Pastoral Nomadism

A form of subsistence agriculture based on the herding of domesticated animals.

Transhumance

The seasonal movement of livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures.

Ranching

A form of agriculture focused on the raising of livestock on large tracts of land.

Feedlot

A type of animal feeding operation that is used to fatten livestock prior to slaughter.

Pampas

A vast grassland region in South America, particularly in Argentina, known for its fertile soil.

Clustered Rural Settlement Pattern

A type of settlement where buildings are grouped closely together, often around a central feature.

Dispersed Rural Settlement Pattern

A settlement pattern characterized by scattered farms and homes rather than clustered villages.

Linear Rural Settlements

Settlements that are arranged in a line, often along a road or river.

Metes and Bounds Rural Survey Method

A method of land surveying that uses physical features and directions to define property boundaries.

Township and Range System

A land survey system used in the United States that divides land into townships and ranges.

Long-Lot Rural Survey Method

A method of land division that creates long, narrow parcels of land extending from a river or road.

Seed Agriculture

The practice of planting seeds to grow crops, as opposed to vegetative propagation.

Vegetative Agriculture

A form of agriculture that involves the propagation of plants through vegetative parts rather than seeds.

Neolithic Revolution

The transition from nomadic hunter-gatherer societies to settled agricultural communities.

Agricultural Hearth

A region where agriculture first developed and from which it spread to other areas.

Fertile Crescent Hearth

An area in Southwest Asia known as one of the earliest centers of agriculture.

Central Asian Hearth

A region in Central Asia recognized for its early agricultural development.

Southeast Asian Hearth

A region in Southeast Asia known for its early agricultural practices and crop domestication.

Staple Crop

A crop that is grown and consumed in large quantities, providing a major source of calories.

First Agricultural Revolution

The period when humans first domesticated plants and animals, leading to settled farming.

Second Agricultural Revolution

A period of agricultural development that increased productivity through mechanization and improved techniques.

Third Agricultural Revolution / Green Revolution

A period characterized by the use of high-yielding varieties of seeds, chemical fertilizers, and irrigation to increase food production.

Irrigation

The artificial application of water to soil to assist in the growing of crops.

Enclosure Movement

The process of consolidating small landholdings into larger farms, often leading to increased agricultural efficiency.

Global Supply Chain

A network of production and distribution processes that spans multiple countries.

Agricultural Commodity

A basic good used in commerce that is interchangeable with other goods of the same type.

Cash Crop

A crop produced for commercial value rather than for use by the grower.

Commodity Dependence

A situation where a country's economy relies heavily on the export of a few commodities.

Horizontal Diversification

The strategy of expanding a business into new markets or products that are similar to existing ones.

Vertical Diversification

The strategy of expanding a business into different stages of production or distribution.

Value-Added Crops

Crops that have been processed or transformed to increase their value before sale.

Infrastructure

The basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.

GHG

Greenhouse Gases, which trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to climate change.

Deforestation

The clearing or thinning of forests by humans, often resulting in loss of biodiversity.

Wetlands

Areas of land that are saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, providing unique ecosystems.

Desertification

The process by which fertile land becomes desert as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.

Loss of Soil Fertility

The decline in the soil's ability to support plant growth due to nutrient depletion or contamination.

Erosion

The process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface by wind or water flow.

Salinization

The accumulation of salts in soil, often due to improper irrigation practices.

Water Pollution

The contamination of water bodies, often caused by human activities, leading to harmful effects on ecosystems.

Dead Zones

Areas in water bodies where oxygen levels are so low that marine life cannot survive.

Land Pollution

The degradation of the Earth's land surfaces through misuse of resources and improper disposal of waste.

Pesticide

A chemical used to kill pests that threaten crops, which can have harmful effects on the environment and human health.

Herbicide

A substance used to kill unwanted plants or weeds.

Insecticide

A chemical used to kill insects that harm crops.

Pesticide Impact on Humans

Exposure to pesticides can lead to health issues, including respiratory problems, skin irritation, and long-term effects.

Loss of Genetic Diversity

The reduction in the variety of genes within a species, often due to monoculture practices.

Habitat Loss

The destruction or alteration of natural environments, leading to a decline in wildlife populations.

Pressure on Water Supplies

Increased demand for water resources due to agricultural practices, leading to potential shortages.

GMO

Genetically Modified Organism, an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.

GM

Genetic Modification, the process of altering the genetic material of an organism.

GE

Genetic Engineering, a technology that involves the direct manipulation of an organism's genes.

Loss of Farmland due to Urbanization

The conversion of agricultural land into urban areas, reducing the availability of land for food production.

Aquaculture

The farming of aquatic organisms, including fish, crustaceans, and plants.

Local Food Movement

A movement that promotes the consumption of food produced locally to support local economies and reduce environmental impact.

Urban Farming

The practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in or around urban areas.

CSA

Community Supported Agriculture, a system in which consumers buy a farm's harvest in advance.

Organic Agriculture

Farming that avoids the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms.

Food Insecurity

The state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of nutritious food.

Fair Trade

A trading partnership that seeks greater equity in international trade, wages, and conditions for producers.

Specialty Crops

Crops that are not considered staple crops and are often grown for niche markets.

Food Deserts

Areas where access to affordable and nutritious food is limited, often found in low-income neighborhoods.

Characteristics of Convenience Store Foods

Typically processed, pre-packaged, and often high in sugars, fats, and sodium.

Ugly Food Movement

An initiative to reduce food waste by promoting the consumption of imperfect-looking fruits and vegetables.

Nutrition Transition

The shift in dietary consumption and energy expenditure that coincides with economic, demographic, and epidemiological changes.

Latin America: 45%, Sub-Saharan Africa; 75%, Asia: 65%

Statistics on household food provided by women in various regions of the world.

What do women lack access to that challenges them in their agricultural work?

Land.