Chapter 12: Agriculture: Human-Environment Interaction

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• Agriculture defined as cultivation of plants or raising animals for survival

• Studies show how humans modify environment for sustenance

• Factors affecting agriculture: elevation, soil, topography, climate

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• Elevation affects growing season length

• Soil characteristics: fertility, texture, structure

• Topography impacts soil stability and water retention

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• Agriculture in Central and South America varies with elevation

• Different zones support different crops and livestock based on altitude

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• Climate key factors: distance from Equator, wind, ocean currents, proximity to water bodies

• Topography and human alterations affect climate

• Terrace farming, fertilizers improve land for agriculture

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• Climate regions based on latitude and coastal/continental locations

• Tropical, dry, temperate, Mediterranean, tundra, ice cap climates

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• Köppen Climate Classifications based on temperature, precipitation, vegetation

• Highland areas challenging to classify due to altitude and topography variations

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• Importance of climate in human lives and agriculture

• Continual discussion and concern about climate

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• Subsistence vs. commercial agriculture

• Intensive and extensive scales of farming

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• Bid-rent theory in land value determination

• Relationship between land value, location, accessibility

• Central business district (CBD) attracts consumer services

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• Rural survey methods: metes and bounds, long-lot survey system, township and range system

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• Factors impacting agriculture worldwide: tropical, subtropical, drylands/desert, temperate regions

• Economic forces influencing agriculture: land, labor, machinery costs

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• Intensive agriculture: high effort for maximum yield

• Inputs for high productivity: labor, fertilizers, pesticides, technology

• Intensive subsistence and commercial agriculture differences in labor, capital investments, yields

Agricultural Practices

Intensive Agriculture

• Monocropping

  • Cultivation of one or two crops for specialization and efficiency.

  • Farmers use crop rotation to prevent soil depletion.

  • Requires heavy investment in high-yield seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides.

• Mediterranean Agriculture

  • Common in regions like Southern Europe, Northern Africa, and California.

  • Crops include grapes, olives, dates, and figs due to hilly and labor-intensive land.

• Plantation Agriculture

  • Large-scale farming of one crop for distant markets.

  • Found in tropical regions for crops like cacao, coffee, and sugarcane.

• Market Gardening

  • Cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and flowers in warm mid-latitude areas.

  • High yields on small tracts of land using intensive methods.

Mixed Crop and Livestock Systems

• Cold and Warm Mid-Latitude Areas

  • Common in Midwestern US, Canada, and Central Europe.

  • Involves growing crops like corn and soybeans to feed livestock.

• On-Farm and Between-Farm Mixing

  • Crops and livestock raised on the same farm or shared between two farmers.

Commercial Dairy Farming

• Mid-Latitude Climates

  • Cows need to be milked twice a day, requiring expensive machinery.

Extensive Agriculture

Subsistence Agriculture

• Shifting Cultivation

  • Farmers move between fields, common in tropical regions for crops like rice and maize.

• Nomadic Herding

  • Nomads move herds for survival in drylands, raising animals like cattle, camels, and goats.

Extensive Commercial Agriculture

• Livestock Ranching

  • Commercial grazing of livestock in drylands, including cattle, sheep, and goats.

• Commercial Grain Farming

  • Crops grown for human consumption in mid-latitude regions, focusing on wheat.

Comparing Intensive and Extensive Agriculture

• Intensive vs. Extensive

  • Intensive practices on nutrient-rich soil for high yields.

  • Extensive practices in areas with marginal agricultural potential.

Rural Settlement Patterns

• Clustered Settlement

  • Residents live in proximity, common settlement pattern.

• Dispersed Settlement

  • Houses isolated over a large area.

• Linear Settlement

  • Houses extend in a line following a land feature or transportation route.

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• Köppen Climate Classifications by Vladimir Köppen

  • Considered global patterns of average temperatures, precipitation, and natural vegetation

  • Highland areas are challenging to classify due to varying altitude and topography

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• Learning Objectives Recap

  • Major geographic concepts illustrate spatial relationships

  • Economic forces influence agricultural practices

  • Different rural settlement patterns and surveying methods explained

• Assignment: Read 12.3 for tonight

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• Agricultural Origins and Diffusions

  • Domestication of plants and animals by people in various regions from 11,000 to 1000 BCE

  • Selective breeding and farming led to increased yields and nutrition

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• Agricultural Hearths

  • Areas where groups began to domesticate plants and animals

  • Features include fertile soil, water availability, moderate climate, and organizational skills

  • Development of irrigation and efficient seed storage methods

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• Agricultural Origins and Diffusions

  • Population distribution and density impact society and the environment

  • Plants and animals diffused globally through relocation and stimulus diffusion

  • Domesticated plants and animals spread through Asia, Europe, and Africa by the 15th century

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• Agricultural Hearths

  • Maps showing regional hearths and major crops

  • Spread of domesticated animals and farming methods from Southwest Asia

  • Farming enclaves developed along the Mediterranean Sea over 11,000 years ago

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• Domestication of Animals

  • Timeline showing the domestication of animals in different regions over time

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• Diffusion of Agriculture and Domesticated Animals

  • Timeline showing the diffusion of agriculture in Europe and Africa

  • Domestication of sheep, goats, pigs, and cattle by migrant farmers and foragers

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• The Columbian Exchange

  • Exchange of goods and ideas between Americas, Europe, and Africa post-1492

  • Impact on indigenous peoples, forced migration, population explosions, dietary changes

  • Introduction of new crops and livestock in different regions

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• The Columbian Exchange

  • Exchange of goods between North America, South America, Europe, and Africa

  • Spread of crops, livestock, and diseases during the Columbian Exchange

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• Diffusion of Agriculture

  • Modern agricultural diffusion with global markets and expanding tastes

  • Examples like kiwi fruit, ostrich farming, and tilapia production in different regions

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• Learning Objectives Recap

  • Major centers of domestication of plants and animals identified

  • Population distribution and density's impact on society and the environment explained

  • Global diffusion of plants and animals discussed

• Assignment: Read 12.4 for tonight

Advances in Agriculture

Neolithic Revolution (First Agricultural Revolution)

• Began around 11,000 years ago, lasting several thousand years.

• Shifted from foraging to farming.

• 80% of the world's diet comes from staple crops like rice, wheat, and maize.

• Domestication of common animals like sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs occurred in different regions at different times.

Consequences of the First Agricultural Revolution

• Transition from nomads to sedentary humans.

• Focus on staple crops led to less dietary diversity.

• Increased efficiency in farming supported a growing population.

• Emergence of larger villages and the first cities as a result of population growth.

Second Agricultural Revolution

• Initiated in the early 1700s with new practices and tools.

• Started in Britain and the Low Countries.

• Saw dramatic improvements in crop yields.

• Introduction of organizational changes like the enclosure system in Britain.

Technological Innovations of the Second Agricultural Revolution

• Horse-drawn seed drill, mechanical reaper, and steel plow.

• Implementation of new crop rotation methods like the Norfolk four-field system.

Consequences of the Second Agricultural Revolution

• Another population boom due to changes in food production.

• Peasant farmers displaced by enclosure and mechanization became a labor force for the Industrial Revolution.

Third Agricultural Revolution

• Started in the early 20th century and continues today.

• Shifted from animal power to mechanical and electric power.

• Innovations include motorized tractors, synthetic fertilizers, GMOs, and precision agriculture.

Green Revolution

• Utilized genetics to develop high-yield strains of grain crops.

• Increased crop yields in areas like Mexico and South Asia.

• Led to environmental impacts such as increased water demand and pesticide-related issues.

Environmental Impacts of the Third Agricultural Revolution

• Increased demand for water and energy.

• Harmful effects of pesticides on insects, animals, and humans.

• Introduction of organic