unit fove moduke 32-39

Agriculture

The practice of cultivating soil, growing crops, and raising animals for food, fiber, and other products.

Domesticated plant

Plants that have been cultivated and modified through selective breeding for human use.

Domesticated animal

Animals that have been bred in captivity and adapted to human environments and needs.

Farmers

Individuals who engage in agriculture, specifically the cultivation of crops and raising of livestock.

Physical geography

The branch of geography that deals with the natural features and processes of the Earth's surface.

Nutrients

Substances that provide essential nourishment for growth and development.

Topography

The arrangement of natural and artificial physical features of an area.

Climate

The long-term average of weather patterns in a particular area.

Weather

The atmospheric conditions at a specific time and place.

Tropical wet climate

Climate characterized by high temperatures and high humidity, with heavy rainfall throughout the year.

Tropical wet and dry climate

A climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, typically warm throughout the year.

Monsoons

Seasonal winds that bring heavy rainfall, particularly in South Asia.

Monsoon rains

Rain that occurs during the monsoon season, often leading to floods.

Arid climate

A region characterized by very low precipitation, leading to dry conditions.

Semiarid (steppe) climate

Climate characterized by slightly more precipitation than arid climates, featuring grasslands.

Moderate climate

A climate with mild temperatures and moderate precipitation.

Humid climate

Climate characterized by high moisture levels and precipitation.

Humid subtropical climate

A climate characterized by hot, humid summers and mild winters.

Marine west coast climate

A climate influenced by oceanic conditions, featuring mild temperatures and significant precipitation.

Mediterranean climate

A climate characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.

Continental climate

A climate characterized by significant temperature variation between seasons.

Humid continental climate

A climate with moist, warm summers and cold winters.

Humid cold climate

Climate characterized by cold temperatures with high moisture.

Intensive agriculture

Agricultural practices that make the most of available land with high input and high yield.

Subsistence agriculture

Farming that provides enough food for the farmer and their family, with little surplus.

Commercial agriculture

Agriculture aimed at producing crops and livestock for sale in markets.

Market gardening

Small-scale production of vegetables and fruits for direct sale.

Truck farm

A type of farm that specializes in the production of fruits and vegetables for market trade.

Plantation

A large estate where crops like sugar, coffee, or cotton are cultivated, typically using labor.

Mixed crop/livestock agriculture

Farming system involving both crops and livestock to create a diversified farm.

Cereal grains

Grain crops grown for food, including wheat, rice, and corn.

Millet

A group of cereal grains known for their drought-resistance and nutritional value.

Root crops

Plants grown for their edible underground parts, like carrots and potatoes.

Cash crops

Crops produced primarily for sale rather than for personal consumption.

Peasants

Small-scale farmers or agricultural laborers, often with limited means.

Paddy rice farming

A method of growing rice in flooded fields.

Livestock fattening

The practice of feeding animals an enriched diet to increase their weight before slaughter.

Feedlot

A facility where livestock are raised in confined spaces for fattening.

Dairying

The practice of producing milk and dairy products.

Grain farming

Cultivation of cereal grains as the primary agricultural activity.

Extensive agriculture

Agricultural practices that use large areas of land with lower input per acre.

Shifting cultivation

A form of agriculture where land is cultivated temporarily and then left fallow.

Slash and burn agriculture

A method of land clearing involving cutting and burning vegetation.

Intercropping

Growing two or more crops in proximity for various benefits, including pest control.

Nomadic herding

A type of pastoralism where herders move their livestock to find fresh pasture.

Tundra

A biome characterized by cold temperatures and minimal vegetation.

Livestock ranching

The practice of raising animals such as cattle or sheep on large tracts of land.

Rural area

Regions located outside towns and cities that are engaged primarily in agriculture.

Rural settlement

A community in rural areas, typically centered around agricultural activities.

Agricultural landscape

The visible features of an area transformed by agricultural practices.

Grain elevation

The height of various crops within an agricultural setting.

Suitcase farm

A farm primarily run by a farmer that lives elsewhere, often hired labor is used.

Silo

A structure for storing bulk materials, commonly used for grain.

Settlement patterns

The spatial arrangement of where people live and how they interact.

Clustered settlement

A settlement pattern where homes and buildings are grouped closely together.

Farmstead

The area that contains a dwelling and necessary buildings for a farm.

Dispersed settlement

A pattern where households are spread out over a large area.

Linear settlement patterns

A settlement pattern that follows a linear feature like roads or rivers.

Cadastral survey

A survey that determines property boundaries and land use.

Survey methods

Techniques used to gather data about land and properties.

Metes and bounds

A system of surveying land using physical features and distances.

Long log survey systems

A method of surveying that uses long lines and specific distances.

Township and range

A system of land surveys used in the United States, based on a grid pattern.

Domestication

The process by which wild plants and animals are adapted to human use.

First agricultural revolution

The transition from nomadic hunting and gathering to settled agriculture.

Teosinte

A wild ancestor of modern corn that was domesticated in Mesoamerica.

Mesoamerica

A historical region encompassing parts of Mexico and Central America.

Biodiversity

The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat.

Hearths

Regions where agriculture and domestication first developed.

Fertile Crescent

A historical region in the Middle East known for its rich soils and early agriculture.

Indus River Valley

An ancient civilization that developed agriculture along the Indus River.

Columbian exchange

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, and cultures between the Americas and the Old World.

Second agricultural revolution

An increase in agricultural production caused by agricultural innovations.

Seed drill

A device used to plant seeds at the correct depth and spacing.

Mechanical reaper

A machine that automates the harvesting of crops.

Scythe

A hand tool used for cutting grass or crops.

Agrichemicals

Chemical products used in agriculture, including fertilizers and pesticides.

Synthetic fertilizer

Man-made fertilizers designed to enrich soil nutrients.

Pesticide

Chemicals used to kill pests that threaten crops.

Herbicide

Chemicals used to kill unwanted plants or weeds.

Runoff

Water that flows over land, potentially carrying pollutants into waterways.

Green revolution

A period of agricultural transformation that increased crop yields worldwide.

Crossbreeding

The practice of breeding different varieties or species to produce hybrids.

Hybrid

Offspring resulting from the crossbreeding of different plant or animal varieties.

Double cropping

The practice of growing two crops on the same piece of land within a single year.

Multicropping

Growing multiple crops in the same space during a single growing season.

Cassava

A starchy root vegetable important in tropical diets.

Sorghum

A drought-resistant cereal grain widely cultivated for food and livestock.

Endemic

Species native to a particular region or environment.

Environmental contamination

Introduction of pollutants into the natural environment.

Soil salinization

The accumulation of salts in soil, which can harm plant growth.

Soil salinity

The concentration of salts in soil.

Capital expenditures

Funds used by an organization to acquire or upgrade physical assets.

Big-rent theory

A theory in urban economics that explains land use dynamics based on rent.

Central business district

The commercial and business center of a city.

Large scale commercial operations

Agricultural practices that produce goods on a large scale for market.

Monocropping (monoculture)

The agricultural practice of growing a single crop over a wide area.

Agricultural cooperations

Organizations formed by farmers to pool resources and share knowledge.

Family farms

Farms owned and operated by families, often passed down through generations.

Commodity

A basic good used in commerce that is interchangeable with other goods of the same type.