AP HUG: Unit 5 Vocabulary

Commercial agriculture

agricultural production primarily for sale in markets

Subsistence agriculture

farming primarily to meet the needs of the farmer’s household

Extensive agriculture

farming with low labor and capital inputs per land area

Intensive agriculture

farming with high labor and capital inputs per land area

Monocropping

cultivation of a single crop on the same land repeatedly

Pastoral nomadism

mobile livestock herding adapted to arid environments

Market gardening

small

Plantation

large

Mixed crop and livestock

agricultural system integrating crop production and animal husbandry

Shifting cultivation

agricultural system involving clearing land, farming it temporarily, then moving

Desertification

degradation of land into desert like conditions due to climate or human activity

Salinization

accumulation of salts in soil reducing agricultural productivity

GMOs

organisms whose genetic material has been altered through biotechnology

Crop rotation

systematic alternation of crops to maintain soil fertility

Von Thünen Model

model explaining agricultural land use based on distance from market

Bid rent theory

theory that land value decreases with distance from the central business district

Food security

reliable access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food

Food deserts

areas with limited access to affordable and healthy food

Green Revolution

technological and agricultural advances increasing food production in developing countries

Deforestation

large scale removal of forest cover for agriculture or development

Terracing

agricultural technique of creating stepped levels on slopes

Tariff

tax imposed on imported goods

Cash crop

crop grown for sale rather than personal consumption

Economies of scale

cost advantages achieved through increased production

Agribusiness

large

Dual agricultural economy

coexistence of subsistence and commercial farming systems

Vertical integration

control of multiple stages of production and distribution by one company

Commodity chain

sequence of production, processing, and distribution of goods

Transhumance

seasonal movement of livestock between different grazing areas

Fair trade

system ensuring equitable prices and working conditions for producers

Farm subsidies

government financial support to agricultural producers

First Agricultural Revolution

domestication of plants and animals leading to settled agriculture

Second Agricultural Revolution

mechanization and improved productivity in agriculture

Third Agricultural Revolution

modern biotechnology and high yield agricultural innovations

Biotechnology

use of scientific tools to modify organisms for agricultural purposes

Organic agriculture

farming system avoiding synthetic chemicals and emphasizing ecological balance

Value added crops

products increased in value through processing or branding

Clustered rural settlement

settlement pattern with closely spaced homes

Dispersed rural settlement

settlement pattern with widely spaced homes

Linear rural settlement

settlement pattern arranged along a transport route or geographic feature