Unit 5: Agriculture and Rural Land Use

A collection of vocabulary flashcards from Unit 5 covering agriculture, rural land use, and related concepts.

Agriculture

Deliberate modification of Earth’s surface through cultivation of plants and rearing of animals to obtain sustenance or economic gain.

Bioclimate

The interaction between climate and living organisms that affects agricultural output.

Environmental Possibilism

The concept that while the physical environment influences human activities and developments, technology enables humans to overcome natural limitations.

Intensive Agriculture

A type of agriculture that involves a large amount of labor and/or capital on small plots of land, usually near high population density.

Extensive Agriculture

A type of agriculture that involves fewer inputs of labor and/or capital on large plots of land, typically located away from major population centers.

Monocropping (Monoculture)

The cultivation of one or two crops that are rotated seasonally, which can lead to higher yields but may strip nutrients from the soil.

Plantation Agriculture

A type of intensive agriculture focused on the production of commodities and specialty crops for sale on the global market.

Market Gardening

A type of intensive agriculture that grows fresh fruits and vegetables primarily for sale, often involving migrant labor and machinery.

Shifting Cultivation

A type of extensive agriculture where farmers move from one field to another, practicing slash-and-burn techniques to prepare the land.

Nomadic Herding

An extensive agricultural practice where herders migrate with their livestock to find pasture and water.

Hearth

The geographic origin of a trait, characteristic, or innovation in agriculture.

The Green Revolution

A period in the mid-20th century where new agricultural technologies and high-yield crop varieties were developed to improve food production.

Agribusiness

The large-scale system that includes the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural products and equipment.

Bid-Rent Theory

The theory that land value is determined by its proximity to the market; closer land is more expensive, encouraging intensive production.

Aquaculture

The cultivation of seafood under controlled conditions, contrasting with fishing, which is the capture of wild seafood.

GMO (Genetically Modified Organism)

An organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques to improve growth and resistance.

Agricultural Sustainability

Practices that maintain and improve agricultural productivity while ensuring the health of ecosystems and communities.

Organic Farming

A method of farming that avoids synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, emphasizing natural processes and biodiversity.

Permaculture

An approach to land management and settlement design that adopts arrangements observed in flourishing natural ecosystems.

Hydroponics

A method of growing plants without soil, using nutrient-rich water solutions instead.

Biodiversity in Agriculture

The variety of life in agricultural settings, including different species and genetic variations that contribute to ecosystem resilience.

Agroforestry

A land use management system that combines trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock.

Crop Rotation

The practice of alternating the species or varieties of crops grown in a particular area in a sequenced manner to improve soil health.

Soil Erosion

The removal of the top layer of soil, which can occur due to factors such as wind, water, and human activities.

Botanical Agriculture

The use of native plant species in agricultural practices to enhance ecological diversity.

Conservation Agriculture

A farming system that promotes minimum soil disturbance, crop rotation, and permanent soil cover to improve soil health.

Traceability in Agriculture

The ability to track the production, processing, and distribution stages of agricultural products.

Food Security

The state where all people have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.

Climate-Smart Agriculture

An approach to developing agricultural strategies that address the challenges of climate change.

Agricultural Co-operatives

Organizations owned and operated by a group of farmers or producers for mutual benefit.

Food Systems

The interconnected network of food production, processing, distribution, and consumption.

Urban Agriculture

The practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in or around urban areas.

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

Agriculture

The interaction between climate and living organisms that affects agricultural output is known as __.

Bioclimate

The concept that technology enables humans to overcome natural limitations is called __.

Environmental Possibilism

__ is a type of agriculture that involves a large amount of labor and/or capital on small plots of land, usually near high population density.

Intensive Agriculture

__ refers to a type of agriculture that involves fewer inputs of labor and/or capital on large plots of land, typically located away from major population centers.

Extensive Agriculture

The cultivation of one or two crops that are rotated seasonally, which can lead to higher yields but may strip nutrients from the soil, is known as __.

Monocropping (Monoculture)

__ is a type of intensive agriculture focused on the production of commodities and specialty crops for sale on the global market.

Plantation Agriculture

__ is a farming practice where farmers move from one field to another, often using slash-and-burn techniques.

Shifting Cultivation

An extensive agricultural practice where herders migrate with their livestock to find pasture and water is called __.

Nomadic Herding

The geographic origin of a trait or innovation in agriculture is referred to as its __.

Hearth

The period in the mid-20th century where new agricultural technologies and high-yield crop varieties emerged is known as __.

The Green Revolution

__ refers to the large-scale system that includes the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural products and equipment.

Agribusiness

The theory that land value is determined by its proximity to the market is known as __ Theory.

Bid-Rent

The cultivation of seafood under controlled conditions is called __.

Aquaculture

An organism whose genetic material has been altered through genetic engineering is known as a __.

GMO (Genetically Modified Organism)

Practices that improve agricultural productivity while maintaining ecosystem health are referred to as __.

Agricultural Sustainability