a complex ecosystem made up of minerals, organic material, gases and liquids which forms the habitat for many animals and plants
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translocation
when water carries particles either up or down in the soil, forming layers
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salinisation
when water evaporates from soil, leaving minerals behind. This occurs when Precipitation < Evaporation
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leaching
when water moves down through the soil, carrying dissolved minerals with it. This occurs when Precipitation \> Evaporation
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O horizon
uppermost layer of newly added organic material
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A horizon
upper layer where humus builds up
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humus
when the decomposition of organic material is incomplete, forming layer of dark brown or black organic material
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B horizon
the layer where soluble minerals and organic matter are deposited from the layer above. In particular, clay and iron salts can be deposited here
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C horizon
a layer of mainly weathered rock from which soil forms
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R horizon
parent material (bedrock or other medium)
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porosity
the amount of space between soil particles
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permeability
the ease at which gases and liquids can pass through the soil
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subsistence farming
the provision of food by farmers for their own families or the local community - no surplus
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cash cropping
growing crops for the market, not to eat yourself
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commercial farming
large-scale production of crops or livestock for sale
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LEDC - less economically developed country
a country with low to moderate industrialisation and low to moderate average GNP per capita
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MEDC - more economically developed country
a highly industrialised country with a high average GNP per capita
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agribusiness
the business of agricultural production including farming, seed supply, breeding, chemicals for agriculture, machinery, food harvesting, distribution, processing and storage
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extensive farming
uses more land with a lower density of stocking or planting and lower inputs and outputs
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intensive farming
uses land more intensively with high levels or input and output per unit area
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pastoral farming
raising animals usually on grass and on land that is not suitable for crops
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arable farming
growing crops on good soils to eat directly or to feed to animals
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mixed farming
has both animals and crops and is a system where animal waste is used to fertilise crops and improve soil structure and some crops are fed to animals
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soil degradation
when soil is either taken away of is made less suitable for use
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overgrazing
when too many animals graze in the same area
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overcropping
when land is overused for growing crops, leading to a depletion of nutrients in the soil
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cover crops
fast growing crops to cover the soil
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terracing
a method to reduce the steepness of slopes by replacing the slope with a series of horizontal terraces, separated by walls
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ploughing
breaking up the soil structure, temporarily increasing drainage
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contour farming
plowing and cultivating along the contour lines of the land
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crop rotation
planting different crops in a rotation to help replenish nutrients in the soil
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