Unit 5 - Agricultural and Land Use Patterns

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in agricultural and land use patterns.

Agriculture

The deliberate modification of the Earth’s surface through cultivation of plants and animals, to obtain sustenance or economic gain.

Cultivation

To take care of; the process of growing crops.

Sustenance

What you need to survive to stay alive.

Nomadic

Having no permanent home; typically involves hunting and gathering.

Seed Agriculture

Reproduction through seeds; hearths in India, China, and Ethiopia.

Hearth

The geographic origin or center where a particular cultural practice or trait begins.

Diffusion

The spread of agricultural practices from their place of origin to other areas.

Subsistence Agriculture

Agriculture practiced for personal consumption rather than for sale.

Commercial Agriculture

Agriculture practiced for profit, where products are sold.

Agribusiness

Any business involved in the food production process.

Shifting Cultivation

A form of subsistence agriculture involving the rotation of fields to maintain soil fertility.

Fallow

Land left unused for a period to allow nutrients to replenish.

Slash-and-Burn Agriculture

A method of clearing land by cutting and burning vegetation.

Pastoral Nomadism

Subsistence agriculture based on the herding of animals.

Transhumance

Seasonal migration of animals between low and high elevations.

Intensive Subsistence Agriculture

Agriculture that requires a large amount of labor to produce maximum yield on a smaller scale.

Double Cropping

Growing two crops in the same field in the same year.

Crop Rotation

The practice of alternating the crops grown on a particular field from season to season.

Plantation

Large farm that specializes in one or two crops, mostly in LDCs.

Mixed Crop/Livestock Farming

Agricultural practice that combines crop production and livestock raising.

Cereal Grain

A grass that yields a grain intended for food consumption.

Dairy Farming

Farming involving the production of milk and milk products.

Milkshed

The area near cities where fresh milk can be produced and transported.

Extensive Agriculture

Agriculture that takes up a lot of space with less day-to-day labor.

Livestock Ranching

Commercial grazing of animals over an extended area.

Mediterranean Agriculture

Agriculture that requires specific climate conditions, often producing fruits and vegetables.

Horticulture

The cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

Bid-Rent Theory

As one moves closer to urban areas, land cost goes up, but transportation costs decrease.

Von Thunen Model

A model that explains the types of farms located at different distances from the city based on transportation costs.

Desertification

The process by which land becomes increasingly arid and desert-like due to human actions.

Green Revolution

The third agricultural revolution marked by improved farming techniques and technology.

GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)

Organisms whose genetic material has been altered to enhance certain traits.

Food Deserts

Areas where people do not have access to fresh, healthy food.

Aquaculture

The cultivation of seafood under controlled conditions.

Fair Trade

A movement designed to ensure that farmers receive a fair wage for their products.

Sustainable Agriculture

Agriculture that preserves or enhances environmental quality and utilizes limited chemicals.

Monoculture

The cultivation of a single crop over a wide area.

Economies of Scale

The reduction in cost per unit as production volume increases.

Role of Women in Agriculture

Women in LDCs often work in subsistence agriculture without pay.