ap human geo 5.1
Introduction to Agriculture
1. Objective and Essential Learning
Explain the connection between physical geography and agricultural practices.
Agricultural practices are influenced by physical environment and climate conditions.
Examples: Mediterranean climate and tropical climates.
Types of agricultural practices:
Intensive farming practices include:
Market gardening
Plantation agriculture
Mixed crop/livestock systems
Extensive farming practices include:
Shifting cultivation
Nomadic herding
Ranching
2. Factors Impacting Agriculture
2.1 The Physical Environment
Agricultural output is significantly determined by:
Climate: Output is influenced by bioclimatic zones.
Includes amounts of precipitation.
Space/Landforms: Determined by arable vs. non-arable land, including mountainous regions and deserts.
Soil/Nutrients: Considerations include:
Are nutrients naturally occurring in the soil?
If not, how are nutrients supplied?
2.2 Climatic Regions and Agriculture
Tropical & Subtropical Agriculture
Types:
Shifting Cultivation
Plantation Agriculture
Characteristics:
High temperatures, abundant rainfall, high humidity, and high vegetation.
Drylands/Desert Agriculture
Types:
Pastoral Nomadism
Livestock Ranching
Characteristics:
High temperatures, little rainfall, mountainous terrain, little vegetation.
Temperate (Mid-Latitude) Agriculture
Types:
Mixed Crop & Livestock
Commercial Grain Farming
Commercial (Market) Gardening
Dairy Farming
Mediterranean Farming
Characteristics:
Seasonal changes with summers and winters, moderate temperatures and rainfall.
2.3 Farming Modifications and Environmental Considerations
Climate Adaptations:
Use of greenhouses.
Space/Landform Adaptations:
Techniques such as terrace farming, clearing trees, and vegetation.
Soil/Nutrient Adaptations:
Use of fertilizers and slash-and-burn agriculture.
Water/Precipitation Management:
Strategies include irrigation and draining wetlands.
2.4 Environmental Possibilism
Definition: The physical environment can shape human societal development; however, humans leverage technology to overcome natural limitations.
Ethical Implication: Human modifications can significantly impact environmental sustainability.
3. Types of Agriculture
3.1 Intensive vs. Extensive Farming
Intensive Farming
Characteristics:
Requires large amounts of labor and/or capital.
Involves small plots of land (land is scarce or expensive).
Locational advantage: Usually found near densely populated areas.
Examples include:
Market Gardening
Plantation Agriculture
Mixed Crop & Livestock
Mediterranean farming
Extensive Farming
Characteristics:
Requires fewer labor and/or capital inputs.
Involves large plots of land (land is usually plentiful and low-cost).
Typically located away from major population centers.
Examples include:
Shifting Cultivation
Livestock Ranching
Nomadic Herding
Commercial Grain Farming
3.2 Understanding Shifting Cultivation
Climate: Predominantly found in tropical regions.
Geographic Locations: Commonly practiced in:
Latin America
Sub-Saharan Africa
Southeast Asia
Types of Crops: Include rice, maize (corn), millet, and sorghum.
Intensive or Extensive: Classified as Extensive.
Commercial or Subsistence: Generally Subsistence.
Description: Farmers transition between fields, employing slash-and-burn techniques to clear and fertilize land. When soil fertility declines, they shift to new plots.
3.3 Understanding Nomadic Herding/Pastoral Nomadism
Climate: Typically occurs in drylands and desert climates.
Geographic Locations: Found in:
Northern Africa
Southwestern Asia
Central Asia
Eastern Asia
Types of Livestock: Includes cattle, camels, reindeer, goats, yaks, sheep, and horses.
Intensive or Extensive: Classified as Extensive.
Commercial or Subsistence: Generally Subsistence.
Description: Nomads move herds to different pastures, focusing on survival rather than profit, with trade involving meat, milk, and hides.
3.4 Understanding Livestock Ranching
Climate: Common in drylands and deserts.
Geographic Locations: Practiced in:
Western North America
Southeastern South America
Central Asia
Australia
South Africa
Types of Livestock: Primarily cattle, goats, and sheep.
Intensive or Extensive: Classified as Extensive.
Commercial or Subsistence: Generally Commercial.
Description: Involves the commercial grazing of livestock, which are eventually sent to feedlots for slaughter.
3.5 Understanding Commercial Grain Farming
Climate: Found in mid-latitudes, often too dry for mixed crop and livestock farming.
Geographic Locations: Common in:
United States
Canada
Europe
Russia
Central Asia
China
South Asia
Types of Crops: Primarily wheat.
Intensive or Extensive: Classified as Extensive.
Commercial or Subsistence: Generally Commercial.
Description: Crops are cultivated mainly for human consumption and sold to manufacturers of food products such as breakfast cereals and bread.
3.6 Understanding Market Gardening/Commercial Gardening
Climate: Found in warm mid-latitude regions.
Geographic Locations: Common in:
Southeastern US
California
Southeastern Australia
Types of Crops: Includes fresh fruits, vegetables, lettuce, broccoli, apples, oranges, tomatoes.
Intensive or Extensive: Classified as Intensive (dependent on migrant labor and machinery).
Commercial or Subsistence: Generally Commercial.
Description: Many fruits and vegetables are sold fresh to consumers; the remainder is sold to large processors for canning or freezing.
3.7 Understanding Plantation Agriculture
Climate: Typically found in tropical regions.
Geographic Locations: Common in:
Latin America
Sub-Saharan Africa
South & Southeast Asia
Types of Crops: Specializes in commodity and specialty crops, including cacao, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, bananas, tobacco, tea, coconuts, and cotton.
Intensive or Extensive: Classified as Intensive (dependent on cheap labor from former colonies).
Commercial or Subsistence: Generally Commercial.
Description: A plantation focuses on a single crop that is transported for sales in the global market.
3.8 Understanding Mixed Crop & Livestock Farming
Climate: Found in cold and warm mid-latitudes.
Geographic Locations: Commonly practiced in:
Midwestern United States & Canada
Central Europe
Types of Crops: Corn, grains, and soybeans primarily grown for livestock feed.
Intensive or Extensive: Classified as Intensive (high capital and labor inputs required).
Commercial or Subsistence: Generally Commercial.
Description: Financial gains primarily come from livestock sales rather than crop outputs.
3.9 Understanding Mediterranean Agriculture
Climate: Characterized by mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers; typically coastal.
Geographic Locations: Found in:
Southern Europe
Northern Africa
Pacific Coast of the US
Chile
South Africa
Southern Australia
Types of Crops: Includes grapes, olives, dates, and figs.
Intensive or Extensive: Classified as Intensive (land is scarce and labor-intensive).
Commercial or Subsistence: Generally Commercial.
Description: Orchards are typical, and crops produced are intended for the global market.
3.10 Understanding Dairy Farming
Climate: Common in mid-latitudes.
Geographic Locations: Practiced in regions such as:
Northern United States
Canada
Europe
Russia
China
India
Brazil
Intensive or Extensive: Classified as Intensive (due to milking cows twice daily and the need for machinery).
Commercial or Subsistence: Generally Commercial.
Description: Dairy products are typically sold to wholesalers, who distribute them to retailers for consumer sales in shops or homes.
4. Concluding Objective and Essential Learning
Recap of the connection between physical geography and agricultural practices:
The influence of the physical environment and climate on agricultural practices is crucial, covering various dimensions including intensive and extensive forms of farming, adapted to different geographical and climatic conditions.