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

Primary economy

Includes resources such as timber, fisheries, and mineral and energy resources.

Intensive agriculture

Requires significant labor input and/or is focused on a small area of land.

Extensive agriculture

Requires limited labor input and/or is spread over large areas of land.

Transhumance

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

Pastoralism

Agriculture based on the seasonal movement of animals between pastures.

Nomadic herding

Communities drive herds from seasonal grazing areas following an annual cycle.

Multicrop farming

Planting multiple crops simultaneously, ensuring backup food supplies.

Monoculture

System focusing on producing a single crop, common in early political civilizations.

Cash cropping

Form of extensive agriculture where harvested crops are exchanged for currency.

Subsistence agriculture

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

Physiologic density

Number of people per unit of arable land; higher in third world countries.

Food preservation

Techniques like drying, pickling, and storage developed for survival.

Collectivization

The process of consolidating individual landholdings into collective farms.

Human ecology

Study of human interactions with nature in farming practices.

Crop rotation

Planting a different crop in a plot of land in subsequent years to maintain fertility.

Double cropping

Planting two crops in the same year on a single plot of land.

Aquifers

Underground water tables that supply water for irrigation.

Conservation agriculture

Farming systems that sustainably manage resources without sacrificing crop production.

Sustainable yield

Amount of crops or animals raised without endangering local resources.

Slash and burn agriculture

A farming technique where land is cleared by cutting and burning vegetation.

Desertification

Process by which fertile land becomes desert due to habitat degradation.

Fair trade

Movement aiming to provide fair prices to producers in developing countries.

Community-supported agriculture (CSA)

Programs delivering produce directly to consumers from local farms.

Dairying

Specialized agricultural activity involving the production of milk, cheese, and other dairy products.

Agricultural revolutions

Major changes in agricultural practices leading to increased productivity.

Von Thünen’s Model

A model that explains land use patterns based on labor intensity and distance from a market.