UNIT 5 KBAT

Agriculture & Rural Land Use Vocabulary

• Aquaculture – The farming of fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants in controlled environments, such as fish farms or ocean enclosures.

• Bid-rent theory – A theory that explains how land value and rent change based on proximity to the market or city center; land closer to the market is more expensive.

• Biotechnology – The use of scientific techniques (such as genetic engineering and cloning) to modify plants, animals, and microorganisms for agricultural and medical purposes.

• Carrying Capacity – The maximum number of people or organisms that an environment can sustain without environmental degradation.

• Clustered – A rural settlement pattern where homes and buildings are grouped together in close proximity, often for social and economic reasons.

• Columbian Exchange – The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, technology, and diseases between the Americas, Europe, and Africa after Columbus' voyages in 1492.

• Commercial Agriculture (Monocropping or Monoculture) – Large-scale farming focused on growing a single crop or raising a single type of livestock, often for sale in global markets.

• Commodity Chains – The series of steps involved in the production and distribution of a product, from raw materials to final consumption.

• Community-supported agriculture (CSA) – A system in which consumers pay farmers upfront for seasonal produce, supporting local agriculture and receiving fresh food in return.

• Deforestation – The large-scale clearing of forests, often for agriculture, logging, or urban expansion.

• Desertification – The process where fertile land becomes desert due to drought, deforestation, or poor agricultural practices.

• Diffusion of Agriculture – The spread of agricultural practices and crops from their places of origin to other areas through migration, trade, and conquest.

• Dispersed – A rural settlement pattern where homes and farms are spread out over a large area, rather than clustered in a village.

• Draining Wetlands – The process of removing water from wetlands to make land available for agriculture or urban development, often leading to habitat loss.

• Economies of Scale – The cost advantages that come with large-scale production, where per-unit costs decrease as production increases.

• Extensive Farming Practices – Farming that requires large areas of land with minimal labor or capital input per unit of land (e.g., ranching, shifting cultivation).

• Fair Trade – A movement that promotes fair wages, sustainable farming, and ethical labor practices for producers in developing countries.

• Fertile Crescent – A region in the Middle East (including Mesopotamia) known as one of the earliest centers of agriculture and civilization.

• Food Deserts – Areas where access to affordable, nutritious food is limited, often in low-income urban or rural communities.

• Food Insecurity – The lack of reliable access to sufficient, nutritious food due to financial or geographic constraints.

• Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) – Crops or animals that have been altered using genetic engineering to enhance traits such as pest resistance or higher yields.

• Global Supply Chains/Food Distribution – The complex network of production, processing, transportation, and retail that moves food from farms to consumers worldwide.

• Green Revolution – A period of agricultural advancements (1950s–1960s) that introduced high-yield crops, chemical fertilizers, and irrigation, increasing global food production.

• Hearths of Domestication – The original centers where plants and animals were first domesticated (e.g., Mesopotamia, Mesoamerica, Indus River Valley).

• Indus River Valley – One of the earliest centers of agriculture and civilization, located in present-day Pakistan and India.

• Intensive Farming Practices – Farming that requires high levels of labor and capital investment per unit of land (e.g., market gardening, dairy farming).

• Irrigation – The artificial application of water to crops to enhance growth in dry areas.

• Linear – A rural settlement pattern where buildings are arranged in a straight line, often along a road, river, or transportation route.

• Local-Food Movements – Efforts to promote the consumption of locally grown food to support local farmers, reduce environmental impact, and improve food quality.

• Farm to Table – A movement emphasizing the direct relationship between farmers and consumers, promoting fresh, locally sourced food.

• Long Lot – A land division system where long, narrow plots of land stretch back from a river or road, common in French colonial areas.

• Market Gardening – Small-scale farming that grows fruits, vegetables, and flowers for sale at local markets.

• Mixed Crop/Livestock – An agricultural system that grows both crops and raises animals on the same farm, often using crops to feed livestock.

• Mediterranean Climate – A climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, ideal for growing olives, grapes, and citrus fruits.

• Metes and Bounds – A rural survey method using natural landmarks and irregular boundaries to divide land, common in the original 13 American colonies.

• Nomadic Herding – A subsistence agriculture practice where people move with their livestock to find grazing land, common in dry regions.

• Organic Farming – A method of farming that avoids synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and GMOs, promoting natural soil health and biodiversity.

• Pastoral Nomadism – A form of subsistence agriculture where people move seasonally with their herds in search of fresh pastures.

• Plantation Agriculture – Large-scale commercial farming focused on cash crops (e.g., coffee, sugar, cotton) often using cheap labor.

• Ranching – A form of extensive farming where livestock are raised on large tracts of land, often in dry regions.

• Rural Settlement Patterns – The spatial arrangement of homes and communities in rural areas (clustered, dispersed, linear).

• Rural Survey Methods – Techniques used to divide land for agriculture and settlement, such as township and range, metes and bounds, and long lots.

• Second Agricultural Revolution – The period during the Industrial Revolution that introduced new farming technologies (e.g., mechanization, crop rotation), increasing food production.

• Shifting Cultivation – A farming practice in tropical regions where land is cleared, used for crops, then abandoned as fertility declines.

• Soil Salinization – The accumulation of salt in the soil, often due to irrigation, reducing soil fertility.

• Subsistence Agriculture – Small-scale farming where food is grown primarily for local consumption rather than for sale.

• Sustainability – The practice of using natural resources responsibly to meet current needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet theirs.

• Terraces – Stepped levels of farmland built on slopes to prevent erosion and maximize arable land in mountainous areas.

• Township and Range – A land division system used in the U.S. to create grid-like patterns, dividing land into square-mile sections.

• Tropical Climates – Warm, humid climates near the equator that support crops like bananas, cocoa, and coffee.

• Urban Farming – The practice of growing food in urban areas through community gardens, rooftop farms, and hydroponics.

• Value-Added Specialty Crops – Crops that undergo processing to increase their value, such as organic, heirloom, or artisanal products.

• Von Thünen Model – A model that explains agricultural land use based on distance from the market, with perishable goods near the city and extensive farming farther away.