Agriculture & Rural Land Use, Industrial & Economic Development

Flashcards on Agriculture, Rural Land Use, Industrial & Economic Development

Latitudes (Low, Mid, High)

Geographic zones based on latitude; Low (0°-30°), Mid (30°-60°), High (60°-90°).

Mediterranean Climate

Warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.

Tropical Climate

High temperatures and rainfall year-round.

Intensive Agriculture

High-input farming using significant labor and technology to maximize yields.

Extensive Agriculture

Low-input farming requiring large areas of land with minimal labor.

Commercial Agriculture

Farming primarily for sale and profit.

Subsistence Agriculture

Farming primarily for local consumption.

Rural

Areas with low population density, agricultural land use, and small settlements.

Market Gardening/Commercial Gardening

Small-scale farming focused on high-value crops near urban areas.

Plantation Agriculture

Large-scale farming of cash crops in tropical regions, often using migrant labor.

Mixed Crop & Livestock Farming

A system where crops and livestock are raised together.

Extensive Agriculture

Farming that requires large areas of land with minimal labor input.

Shifting Cultivation

Subsistence farming method where land is cleared, used briefly, then abandoned.

Nomadic Herding

Subsistence agriculture where people move with livestock for grazing land.

Ranching

Commercial livestock farming over large areas.

Clustered Settlement Pattern

Homes and buildings grouped together, often around a central feature.

Dispersed Settlement Pattern

Homes and farms spread out over a large area.

Linear Settlement Pattern

Settlements arranged along a transportation route.

Metes and Bounds

Land surveying using natural landmarks and irregular boundaries.

Township and Range

Grid-based land division system dividing land into townships and sections.

Long Lot System

Land division where narrow plots extend from a river or road.

Domestication

The process of selectively breeding plants and animals for human use.

Fertile Crescent

A region in the Middle East where agriculture first developed.

Indus River Valley

One of the earliest agricultural civilizations, located in present-day Pakistan and India.

Southeast Asia

A region where rice and other staple crops were first domesticated.

Central America

The origin of crops like maize, beans, and squash.

Columbian Exchange

The transfer of crops, animals, and diseases between the Old World and New World.

First Agricultural Revolution

The transition from hunting and gathering to settled farming (~10,000 years ago).

Second Agricultural Revolution

The mechanization of agriculture during the Industrial Revolution.

Green Revolution

Introduction of high-yield seeds, fertilizers, and advanced irrigation.

High-Yield Seed

Genetically improved seeds designed to produce more food per acre.

Mechanized Farming

The use of machinery to increase efficiency in agriculture.

Subsistence Agriculture

Farming for local consumption rather than trade.

Commercial Agriculture

Large-scale farming for profit, often involving agribusiness.

Monocropping/Monoculture

Growing a single crop over a large area, which can lead to soil depletion.

Commodity Chain

The process of production, distribution, and consumption of agricultural goods.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population that an environment can support sustainably.

Global Supply Chain

The worldwide network of production and distribution of agricultural goods.

Export Commodity

Agricultural products grown for international trade.

Desertification

The degradation of land into desert due to overuse and climate change.

Soil Salinization

The accumulation of salt in soil due to irrigation, reducing fertility.

Conservation

Sustainable land management practices to protect natural resources.

Slash-and-Burn Agriculture

A method where forests are cleared by fire for farming.

Terrace Farming

The creation of step-like fields on hillsides to prevent erosion.

Irrigation

Artificial water supply for agriculture.

Deforestation

The clearing of forests for agriculture or development.

Pastoral Nomadism

A subsistence practice where herders move livestock seasonally.

Biotechnology

The use of genetic engineering to improve agricultural productivity.

GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)

Crops with altered DNA for improved yield and resistance.

Aquaculture

The farming of fish and seafood.

Sustainability

Farming practices that maintain environmental health for future generations.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in an ecosystem, crucial for agricultural resilience.

Fertilizer

Chemicals or organic matter used to enhance soil fertility.

Pesticide

Chemicals used to control pests in agriculture.

Fair Trade

Ethical trade practices ensuring fair wages and sustainable farming.

Food Insecurity

Lack of reliable access to nutritious food.

Food Desert

Areas with limited access to fresh, healthy food.

Industrial Revolution

The transition to mechanized production in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Natural Resources

Raw materials used in production, such as coal, oil, and water.

Second Agricultural Revolution

The mechanization of farming during the Industrial Revolution.

Urbanization

The growth of cities due to industrialization.

Colonialism & Imperialism

The expansion of European powers for economic and political control.

Primary Sector

Extraction of natural resources (e.g., farming, fishing, mining).

Secondary Sector

Manufacturing and industrial production.

Tertiary Sector

Services like retail, healthcare, and entertainment.

Quaternary Sector

Knowledge-based industries (e.g., research, IT).

Quinary Sector

High-level decision-making (e.g., government, CEOs).

GDP, GNP, GNI

Measures of a country’s economic output and income.

Per Capita

Economic indicators divided by population.

Formal vs. Informal Economy

Official vs. unregulated economic activities.

Fertility & Infant Mortality Rates

Indicators of population health.

Access to Healthcare & Literacy Rates

Measures of human development.

Gender Inequality Index (GII)

Measures gender disparities in health, empowerment, and labor.

Human Development Index (HDI)

A composite measure of economic and social development.

Economies of Scale

Cost advantages of large-scale production.

Agglomeration

The clustering of industries for efficiency.

Sustainable Development

Economic growth that preserves environmental and social well-being.