Agricultural Terms and Geographic Patterns
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Questions and Answers

What condition is responsible for the polar areas being cold despite 24 hours of sunlight during summer?

  • Filtered sunlight and low angle of rays (correct)
  • Proximity to water bodies
  • Geothermal activity
  • High elevation

Which climate zone is recognized as the birthplace of agriculture?

  • Polar zone
  • Torrid zone
  • Desert climate
  • Temperate/mid-latitude climates (correct)

What is primarily grown in grasslands according to the content provided?

  • Tree crops
  • Cereal grains (correct)
  • Root vegetables
  • Fruits

Which of the following regions is NOT part of the Mediterranean climate zone?

<p>Northern coast of Africa (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why were early geographers biased in favor of the temperate zone?

<p>They considered it more suitable for human development. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does rainfall play in temperate climates for agriculture?

<p>Rainfall timing must align with the growing season. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic feature of the Mediterranean climate?

<p>Warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which theory replaced the older view of environmental determinism?

<p>Environmental Possibilism (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary method used for surveying the Louisiana Purchase?

<p>Chains or string with measurement tools (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are benchmarks primarily used for in surveying?

<p>To state the elevation and other information (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which surveying system is based on natural and manmade landmarks?

<p>Metes and Bounds System (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What shape do properties typically have when surveyed using the metes and bounds system?

<p>Irregular shapes and sizes (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the Township and Range System primarily rely on for its surveying?

<p>Latitude and longitude baselines (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What historical connection does the metes and bounds system have?

<p>It was brought over by English colonists. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following problems did early surveying methods commonly cause?

<p>Boundaries were often disputed (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What kind of areas is the metes and bounds system best suited for?

<p>Irregularly sized or shaped land parcels (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes nomadic herding from ranching?

<p>Nomadic herding does not generate surplus for profit. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How has barbed wire impacted ranching in the United States?

<p>It reduced costs for enclosing large parcels of land. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common challenge faced by nomadic herders?

<p>Navigating across international borders. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what type of regions do nomadic herding primarily occur?

<p>Deserts or tundra regions. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a major consequence of the introduction of barbed wire in ranching?

<p>It reduced the conflict over grazing rights. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the subsistence nature of nomadic herders?

<p>Herders raise livestock primarily for survival. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did barbed wire play for ranchers after its invention?

<p>It enabled ranchers to control vast areas of land. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What effect does population growth have on nomadic tribes?

<p>It pressures them into smaller areas. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a clustered rural settlement?

<p>Families live in close proximity with farmland surrounding them. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which of the following scenarios would a dispersed settlement likely occur?

<p>In areas with extensive farmland spread out. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining feature of linear settlements?

<p>They often form along roads, rivers, or canals. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the process of land surveying?

<p>The scientific process of measuring horizontal distances and elevations. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What has influenced the prevalence of dispersed settlements in the United States?

<p>The surveying practices during westward expansion. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which tool is commonly used to take measurements during the surveying process?

<p>Theodolite. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do clustered rural settlements differ from urban settlements?

<p>Clustered rural settlements typically consist of closely placed houses surrounded by farmland. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does the stadia rod play in surveying?

<p>It is used to take measurements of elevation. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic climate for plantation agriculture?

<p>Tropical climate with high temperatures and rainfall (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following crops is NOT typical for plantation agriculture?

<p>Corn (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a fundamental aspect of the early plantation system in North America?

<p>Use of slave labor for export commodities (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes mixed crop and livestock farming from plantations?

<p>Mixed farms derive a majority of income from animal products (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is intercropping primarily aimed at achieving?

<p>Increasing yield by utilizing resources efficiently (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary method of planting used in intertillage?

<p>Planting crops in close proximity along the same mound (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the plantation farming system?

<p>Very large farms focusing on cash crops using slave or low-wage labor (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which practice requires substantial human labor and is commonly used in slash & burn agriculture?

<p>Intertillage for season-spread production (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a township in the context of the Township and Range system?

<p>A distance measured north or south from the baseline (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How large is a typical township in the Township and Range system?

<p>6 miles per side (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the Range in the Township and Range system?

<p>It measures distance east or west of the principal meridian (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the size of each section in the Township and Range system?

<p>640 acres (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the counties in Texas settled using the metes and bounds survey system?

<p>Small and irregularly shaped (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the Township and Range system affect the population distribution in the Great Plains?

<p>It encouraged population spread across the landscape (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of counties surveyed in the panhandle of Texas?

<p>Based on a rectangular survey system (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Long Lot System used in regions like Quebec and Louisiana?

<p>A survey system resulting in long and narrow lots (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Seasons and Earth’s Tilt

The tilt of the Earth on its axis causes the seasons. When the Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, it experiences summer, while the Northern Hemisphere experiences winter. The opposite occurs when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun.

Polar Sunlight and Ice Caps

Despite receiving 24 hours of sunlight during their summer, the polar areas remain cold due to the sun's rays being filtered by the atmosphere and entering at a low angle. This results in the formation of ice caps.

Temperature Zones and Civilization

The temperature zones, including temperate, torrid (tropical), and frigid (polar) zones, influence the types of agricultural practices and civilizations that develop in different parts of the world.

Temperate Climate and Agriculture

Temperate climates are ideal for agriculture due to their fertile soil and moderate rainfall throughout the year. This allowed for the development of agriculture and the spread of farming techniques to other temperate regions.

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Environmental Determinism vs. Possibilism

The theory of environmental determinism suggests that the physical environment directly determines human development and cultural characteristics, while environmental possibilism posits that humans have the ability to adapt and modify their environment.

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Mediterranean Climate

The Mediterranean climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. It occurs in five regions: Western US, Western Chile, Southern South Africa, South and Southwest Australia, and the Mediterranean Basin.

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Early Geographical Views and Environmental Determinism

Early geographers believed that the temperate zone was superior to other zones for human development, leading to prejudiced views and justifications for imperialism. This perspective, later rejected, is known as environmental determinism.

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Environmental Possibilism

The theory that environment influences but does not determine human actions and development. This allows humans to adapt and change their environment, influencing their own development.

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Plantation Agriculture

A type of farming that grows crops like cotton, coffee, and rubber on large estates, often using intensive methods and labor.

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Mixed Crop and Livestock Farming

A farming system that combines growing crops with raising livestock, typically focusing on animal products like beef and eggs.

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Intercropping

The practice of planting two or more crops in close proximity to maximize resource use and potentially increase overall yield.

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Intertillage

A farming method where different crops are planted in the same field during the growing season, usually along mounds or rows. It commonly involves planting crops at different levels.

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Slash & Burn Agriculture

The process of clearing land by cutting down trees or vegetation and burning it to create space for agriculture.

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Plantation System

The historical use of large estates with enslaved or low-wage labor to produce cash crops for export.

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Crop Rotation

A common method where crops are used primarily to feed animals in mixed crop and livestock farming.

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Intensive Agriculture

A type of farming that uses a lot of fertilizers and pesticides, often associated with plantations and intensive agriculture.

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Nomadic Herding

A type of subsistence farming where herders move with their livestock, often across vast distances, to find fresh grazing land.

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Subsistence Agriculture

Farming practices focused on producing just enough food and resources for the farmer and their family's survival, without generating a profit.

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Ranching

The practice of raising livestock, like cattle or sheep, on large areas of land for commercial purposes, often for meat or wool.

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Barbed Wire and Ranching

The invention of barbed wire in the mid-1800s revolutionized ranching by allowing ranchers to cheaply fence off vast areas of land, thus establishing clear property boundaries.

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Barbed Wire and Range Rights

The use of barbed wire fences in the American West allowed ranchers to protect their grazing lands from other ranchers and ensure their control over vast swaths of territory.

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Grassland Plains and Ranching

The vast, flat grasslands of the American West, ideal for grazing livestock, played a key role in the development of ranching due to their suitability for raising large herds of cattle and sheep.

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Barbed Wire Fence from Texas to the North Pole

A saying that highlights the vastness of the American West, where barbed wire fences are a defining feature of the landscape.

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Farming and Settlement

The availability of landsuitable for agriculture directly influences the formation of settlements and the development of communities.

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Clustered Rural Settlement

A type of rural settlement where homes are grouped close together, with surrounding farmland. It is found in many agricultural communities worldwide.

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Linear Rural Settlement

A type of rural settlement with buildings arranged in a long line, often following a transport route like a road, river, or canal.

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Dispersed Rural Settlement

A rural settlement with farmsteads scattered across a wide area. It was common in colonial America and spread westward.

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Land Survey

The process of measuring and recording the dimensions of an area of land. It includes details like horizontal distances, directions, angles, and elevations.

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Surveying Methods

A scientific method used to measure distances and elevations, often using a measuring wheel or tape and instruments like a theodolite.

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Township and Range System

A system of land division used in the United States, where land was split into square-shaped townships and sections.

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The Township and Range System

A system using a grid of squares to divide land into townships and sections, commonly used in the US to distribute land.

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Land Survey

The process of measuring and recording the dimensions of an area of land, including directions, angles, and elevations.

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Metes and Bounds System

A survey system using natural or manmade landmarks like rivers, roads, and stakes to define irregular property boundaries.

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Long Lot System

A surveying method that uses long, narrow strips of land along rivers or roads, typically found in French-influenced areas.

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Benchmarks

Reference points with a stated elevation and other information placed during surveying to mark and measure land.

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Surveying

The act of measuring and marking land boundaries, which was done primarily on foot before technology like GIS.

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Boundary Demarcation

The system of officially establishing and marking boundaries, often leading to disputes over territory.

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Survey System

Different ways of recording surveyed data, such as the metes and bounds, long lot, and township and range systems.

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Plating

The process of dividing real estate into smaller parcels for sale and settlement, often using the Township and Range system.

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Township

A measure of distance north or south from a designated baseline, typically measuring 6 miles.

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Range

A measure of distance east or west from a designated principle meridian, typically measuring 6 miles.

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Section

A square section of land, approximately 36 square miles, divided into 36 smaller sections of 640 acres each.

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Rectangular Survey System

A survey system using the Township and Range system, resulting in a more orderly grid-based layout of counties and land divisions.

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Flyover States

A derogatory term used to refer to the central states of the US, often passed over by flights due to being less populated.

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Study Notes

Agricultural Definitions

  • Fertilizer: A chemical or natural product used to add nutrients to the soil.
  • Pesticide: A chemical or natural product used to prevent crop damage from insects.
  • Cultivate: To grow.
  • Domesticate: To raise for human use.

Physical Geographic Patterns

  • Continents have varied landforms.
  • Some landforms are more suitable for agriculture than others.
  • Mountains: Rugged terrain making farming difficult, but with varied climates at different elevations.
  • Plains: Flat, sweeping landmasses with varying elevations, including lowlands, coastal plains, and elevated plains (plateaus).
  • River Valleys: Lowland areas often with rivers running through them. Very fertile due to the organic sediment deposited during floods. Earliest civilizations often developed in river valleys.

Landforms of the US

  • The US contains a wide variety of landforms.
  • Coastal plains are wide on the east coast and narrow on the west.
  • The Great Plains are flat, with coastal plains in south Texas, transitioning to plateaus in the central part.
  • The Basin and Range region is situated between the Rockies (east) and Cascade/Sierra Nevada ranges (west) and has varied elevations.
  • The American southwest contains extensive deserts.

Climate Regions

  • Climate regions are categorized by temperature and precipitation patterns.
  • Tropical Climate: Warm temperatures and high precipitation year-round. Located around the equator (red on map).
  • Desert Climate: Arid regions with low rainfall. located on both sides of the Tropical Zone (orange on map).
  • Polar/Tundra Climate: Cold year-round, with frozen or ice-covered ground, unsuitable for agriculture. (dark blue on map).
  • Temperate Zone: Four distinct seasons (winter, spring, summer, autumn). Located between polar and tropical zones (green on map).

What Causes Seasons?

  • The Earth's tilt (23.5 degrees) causes different parts of the Earth to receive more direct sunlight at various times of the year.
  • Summer months in the Northern Hemisphere: Longer days, more direct sunlight, more energy received from the sun.
  • Winter months in the Northern Hemisphere: Shorter days, less direct sunlight, less energy received from the sun.
  • The Southern Hemisphere experiences opposite seasons to the Northern Hemisphere.

Sub-tropical Climates

  • Located just outside the tropical zone.
  • Hot summers and mild winters with rain year-round.
  • Suitable for crops needing a long growing season (often >200 days).

Tropical Climates

  • Average yearly temperature above 64°F.
  • No distinct seasons.
  • Very suitable for year-round crop growth, unlike other regions.
  • Vulnerable to certain diseases due to consistent warm conditions.

Tropical Agriculture

  • Requires different methods of agriculture versus other regions.
  • Planting via cuttings rather than seeds is often used.
  • Cash crops include bananas, pineapple, coconut, cocoa, coffee, and sugar cane.
  • Traditional methods can be environmentally damaging.

Commercial vs. Subsistence Agriculture

  • Commercial: Farming for profit, growing a surplus for sale, using large plots of land, labor, and machinery. Often specializing in 1 or 2 crop types.
  • Subsistence: Growing food to feed the family, small plots of land, relying on human/animal labor, producing a wide variety of crops.

Intensive Farming

  • High input of labor, machinery, fertilizers, and pesticides.
  • High yield per unit of land.
  • Can involve commercial farming (for profit) or subsistence farming (for self-consumption).
  • Extensive use of fertilizers and pesticides.

Market Gardening

  • Commercial production of perishable crops for nearby cities.
  • Intensive agriculture method.
  • Techniques involving quality plant selection, soil fertilization, and irrigation are used.
  • Important for providing fresh produce.

Plantation Agriculture

  • Intensive form of commercial farming focused on growing one or two crops.
  • Requires large amounts of capital investment and land.
  • Often uses inexpensive labor and machinery.
  • Common crops include cotton, coffee, cocoa, rubber, palm, sugarcane, tea, tobacco, bananas, pineapple (etc)

Mixed Crop/Livestock Systems

  • Farms that produce both crops and livestock.
  • Crops are often used to feed livestock.
  • A form of intensive agriculture.

Intercropping

  • Multiple crops grown in close proximity.
  • Aims to maximize resource utilization and yield more from one piece of land.

Interillage

  • A practice of planting crops in varying levels within a plot of land.
  • Typically used in slash and burn style agriculture due to labor intensive aspect.

Extensive Farming

  • Uses less inputs per unit of land compared to intensive methods.
  • Low inputs of labor, fertilizers, and capital.
  • Examples include ranching, nomadic herding, and shifting cultivation.
  • Large amounts of land required.

Shifting Cultivation

  • Used in tropical regions.
  • Clearing vegetation (typically by burning), cultivating the land for a few years, and then letting it lie fallow for several years.
  • Labour intensive method of farming.
  • Often problematic with long term use for nutrient replenishment.

Nomadic Herding

  • Raising livestock (sheep, goats, cattle) over a large area.
  • No fixed location; follows the available forage and water sources.
  • Usually in arid/semiarid regions.

Ranching

  • Commercially raising large animals on a ranch that has defined property boundaries.
  • Land area is often extensive.

Classification of Rural Settlements

  • Residential areas in places with agricultural activities.
  • Settlements vary greatly in density.

Clustered Settlements

  • Farms with dwellings close together.
  • Rural settlements that have homes/dwellings clustered together.

Linear Settlements

  • Buildings are located along transport routes (roads, canals, rivers etc)

Dispersed Settlements

  • Farmsteads scattered across the land.
  • Often found in regions with relatively flat topography.

Rural Survey Methods

  • The scientific process for measuring land dimensions, including distances, directions, and elevation.
  • Different surveying methods include: metes and bounds, township and range, and long lot systems.

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Agriculture, Settlements, and Survey Methods PDF

Description

This quiz covers essential agricultural definitions and the physical geographic patterns that influence land use, particularly for farming. It examines the relationship between various landforms in the US and their suitability for agriculture. Test your knowledge on terms like fertilizer and pesticide, as well as the characteristics of different landforms.

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