Introduction to Agriculture - AP Human Geography
- What is agribusiness?
- Integration of various steps of food production. Includes farming, processing, distribution, and retail operations.
- Identify the main goal of integrated pest management (IPM).
- To minimize pest damage with minimal environmental impact. Combines biological, cultural, and chemical controls strategically.
- Identify the main goal of conservation tillage.
- Reduce soil erosion and water loss. Minimizes soil disturbance while maintaining crop residue cover.
- What is vertical farming?
- Growing crops in stacked layers or vertically inclined surfaces. Maximizes production in limited urban space using technology.
- What is agroforestry?
- Integrating trees and shrubs into crop and livestock systems. Creates beneficial interactions between trees and agricultural systems.
- What is the primary characteristic of plantation agriculture?
- Large-scale monoculture for export crops. Typically found in tropical regions producing cash crops like coffee or sugar.
- Define monoculture.
- Cultivation of a single crop in a given area. Increases efficiency but reduces genetic diversity and increases pest risk.
- Define polyculture.
- Cultivating multiple crops in the same space. Promotes biodiversity and natural ecosystem balance.
- What distinguishes organic farming from conventional farming?
- Use of natural inputs and no synthetic chemicals. Relies on crop rotation, composting, and biological pest control.
- What is the primary focus of regenerative agriculture?
- Restoring soil health and ecosystem biodiversity. Goes beyond sustainability to actively improve environmental conditions.
- What is a GMO (Genetically Modified Organism)?
- An organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering. Created to enhance desired traits like pest resistance or nutrition.
- Define shifting cultivation.
- A farming method involving moving fields periodically. Allows soil to recover while farmers move to new plots.
- What is hydroponics?
- Growing plants without soil, using nutrient solutions. Allows precise control of nutrients and growing conditions.
- Identify the main characteristic of a pastoral society.
- Economy based primarily on animal husbandry. Mobile lifestyle following seasonal grazing patterns for livestock.
- What is tillage?
- The preparation of land for growing crops. Includes plowing, harrowing, and other soil preparation methods.
- Define urban agriculture.
- Growing food within city or urban areas. Includes rooftop gardens, vertical farms, and community gardens.
- Identify the main benefit of crop diversification.
- Reduces risk and increases resilience to pests and diseases. Multiple crops provide insurance against crop failure.
- Identify the main purpose of slash-and-burn agriculture.
- To clear land and enrich soil with ash. Traditional method used in tropical forests for temporary cultivation.
- What is the primary advantage of no-till farming?
- Preserves soil structure and reduces erosion. Maintains soil moisture and organic matter while reducing costs.
- Which agricultural practice involves transhumance?
- Seasonal movement of livestock between grazing areas. Pastoral nomads move herds seasonally for better grazing.
- Define intercropping.
- Growing multiple crops in proximity. Maximizes land use and can provide natural pest control.
- Identify the main characteristic of dryland farming.
- Farming relying on rainfall rather than irrigation. Practiced in regions with limited water resources.
- Define aquaculture.
- Raising aquatic organisms for food. Includes fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants in controlled environments.
- What is crop rotation?
- Alternating crops to maintain soil fertility. Prevents soil depletion and breaks pest cycles naturally.
- What is subsistence agriculture?
- Agriculture for self-sufficiency, not for sale. Farmers grow only what they need to feed their families.
- Define precision livestock farming.
- Technology-based management of livestock farming. Uses sensors and automation to monitor animal health and behavior.
- Identify the main goal of sustainable agriculture.
- To maintain environmental health and productivity. Balances economic viability with ecological preservation for future generations.
- What is permaculture?
- Design system for sustainable agriculture modeled on natural ecosystems. Emphasizes permanent, self-sustaining agricultural systems.
- Identify the primary crop of the Green Revolution.
- High-yield varieties of rice and wheat. Increased food production but required fertilizers and pesticides.
- What is arable land?
- Land suitable for growing crops. Distinguished from pasture land which is used for grazing.
- Identify the main feature of pastoral nomadism.
- Herding livestock seasonally over large areas. Practiced in arid regions where permanent settlement is difficult.
- What is a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)?
- A system where consumers subscribe to receive seasonal produce directly from farmers. Provides direct farmer-to-consumer relationship and shared risk.
- What is intensive subsistence agriculture?
- High labor input for maximum yield on small land. Common in densely populated areas like East Asia.