Glossary
Chemical Fertilizers
Synthetic substances containing nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, applied to soil to enhance its fertility and boost crop yields.
Example:
To achieve higher yields, many commercial farms apply chemical fertilizers to replenish soil nutrients after each harvest.
Climate
The long-term weather patterns of a region, which are a primary determinant of what types of crops can be successfully grown and livestock raised.
Example:
The arid climate of the American Southwest necessitates extensive irrigation for growing crops like cotton and alfalfa.
Extensive Farming
An agricultural system characterized by low inputs of labor, capital, and chemicals per unit of land, typically requiring large land areas to be profitable.
Example:
Cattle ranching across vast grasslands in the American West is a prime example of extensive farming.
Factory Farming
A system of rearing livestock, such as poultry, pigs, or cattle, in confinement at high stocking densities, often using automated systems for feeding and waste removal.
Example:
Large-scale chicken operations where thousands of birds are housed indoors in small cages exemplify factory farming practices.
Intensive Farming
An agricultural system characterized by high inputs of labor, capital, fertilizers, and pesticides per unit of land to maximize crop yields or livestock output.
Example:
A small vegetable farm near a city that uses greenhouses, hydroponics, and multiple harvests per year is an example of intensive farming.
Irrigation
The artificial application of water to land to assist in the production of crops, especially in dry regions or during periods of insufficient rainfall.
Example:
Farmers in California's Central Valley rely heavily on irrigation systems, drawing water from distant rivers, to grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
Mixed Crop/Livestock Systems
An agricultural system where both crops and livestock are raised on the same farm, often with the crops providing feed for the animals and the animals providing manure for the crops.
Example:
A family farm that grows corn and soybeans while also raising pigs and chickens, using the animal waste to fertilize the fields, operates a mixed crop/livestock system.
Monoculture
The agricultural practice of growing a single crop or raising a single type of livestock over a large area, often for efficiency and specialized production.
Example:
Vast fields of only corn stretching for miles across Iowa represent a classic example of monoculture.
Nomadic Herding
A form of pastoral nomadism where livestock are herded in search of fresh pastures and water, typically practiced in arid or semi-arid regions.
Example:
The Maasai people of East Africa practice nomadic herding, moving their cattle and goats across the savanna in search of grazing lands.
Pesticides
Chemical substances used to control pests, including insects, weeds, and fungi, that can damage crops or livestock.
Example:
Farmers might spray pesticides on their potato fields to prevent blight and insect infestations from destroying the crop.
Physical Geography
The study of Earth's natural features, including landforms, water bodies, and climate, which significantly influence agricultural practices and potential.
Example:
The physical geography of the Nile River Valley, with its fertile floodplains and predictable water supply, has supported intensive agriculture for millennia.
Plantation Agriculture
A large-scale commercial farming system typically found in tropical or subtropical regions, specializing in the production of one or two cash crops for export.
Example:
Vast fields of bananas or coffee grown for international markets in Central America are characteristic of plantation agriculture.
Ranching
A form of commercial agriculture in which livestock (typically cattle or sheep) are raised on large tracts of land for meat, wool, or other products.
Example:
Large cattle ranching operations are common in the western United States and Australia, where vast open spaces allow for extensive grazing.
Shifting Cultivation
A traditional agricultural system where farmers clear a plot of land, cultivate crops for a few years until soil fertility declines, and then abandon it to move to a new plot.
Example:
Indigenous communities in the Amazon rainforest sometimes practice shifting cultivation, clearing small areas for crops before allowing the forest to regenerate.
Soil
The loose top layer of Earth's surface, whose fertility, composition, and structure directly impact crop yields and the types of agriculture that can be sustained.
Example:
Farmers in the Midwest value the rich, dark soil (chernozem) for its exceptional fertility, ideal for growing corn and soybeans.
Topography
The arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area, influencing farming ease, water runoff, and potential for mechanization.
Example:
Mountainous topography in regions like the Andes often leads to terraced farming to maximize arable land and prevent erosion.
Water
A crucial natural resource essential for crop growth and livestock, with its availability often determining the feasibility and intensity of agricultural practices.
Example:
Access to reliable water sources, whether from rivers, aquifers, or rainfall, is paramount for successful rice cultivation in Southeast Asia.