Agricultural Practices and Climate

Climate and Agriculture

• Different climates support different agricultural products due to varying physical features, growing seasons, arable land, and access to water.

• Examples:

  • Tropical: coffee, sugar, pineapple

  • Subtropical: rice, cotton, tobacco

  • Grasslands: cattle, sheep, goats

  • Mediterranean: grapes, olives, dates

  • Warm mid-latitude: vegetables, fruits, rice

  • Cold mid-latitude: wheat, barley, livestock

Advancements in Technology

• Technologies like fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides increase crop yield.

• Genetic modification allows crops and animals to grow faster and in more diverse environments.

• New farming methods (greenhouses, vertical farming, community gardens) enable food production in urban areas.

• Advancements in irrigation, GPS, and GIS improve crop management.

• These advancements exemplify environmental possibilism and counter Malthus's theory of arithmetic food production growth.

Intensive vs. Extensive Agricultural Practices

• Intensive Agriculture:

  • Requires less land, more capital and labor.

  • Located closer to population centers.

  • Aims for high yield.

• Extensive Agriculture:

  • Requires more land, less labor and capital.

  • Located farther from population centers.

  • Lower yield.

Types of Intensive Agriculture

• Plantation Agriculture:

  • Located in periphery countries with tropical climates.

  • Relies on cheap labor.

  • Focuses on cash crops (e.g., coffee, sugar, tobacco, tea) for export.

  • Often operated by companies from economically advanced countries.

• Mixed Crop and Livestock Agriculture:

  • Found in more economically developed countries.

  • Crops (e.g., corn, soybean) are used to feed livestock.

  • Livestock is processed and sold.

• Market Gardening (Truck Farming):

  • Located in areas with long growing seasons (e.g., Southeastern U.S.).

  • Grows fresh fruits and vegetables.

  • Uses migrant labor.

  • Produce is often processed, then shipped to markets.

Types of Extensive Agriculture

• Shifting Cultivation:

  • Located in tropical climates (e.g., Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia).

  • Land is cleared, farmed until nutrients are depleted, then left fallow.

  • A new plot of land is then used.

• Nomadic Herding:

  • Practiced in Central and Southwest Asia, and Northern Africa.

  • Herdsmen move with animals (cattle, sheep, goats).

  • Limited population size and possessions due to constant movement.

• Ranching:

  • Located in areas unsuitable for farming.

  • Requires large areas of land, located far from population centers

  • Land is less expensive, which allows ranchers to maximize their profits and reduce their cost.