Chapter 3: Fertile Land and Crops

Study Notes

Fertile land is crucial for growing food, and farming is one of the oldest and most important activities in the world.
A staple food crop is the crop that forms the main part of many meals eaten by the community, and is often a cereal crop.
Three of the most important cereal crops in the world are maize, rice, and wheat.

Maize (also known as corn) requires:
- A growing season of 150-210 days with daily temperatures of 20-25°C and night temperatures above 15°C.
- Annual rainfall of 620-1000mm.
- A dry sunny season to enable the cobs to ripen.
- Well-drained and fertile soils.
Most of the world's maize growing areas are in the warm mid-latitudes.
The USA produces 45% of the world's maize, primarily in the Corn Belt states of Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, and Ohio.
Other major maize producing regions include Argentina, Europe, China, Brazil, India, Indonesia, and Egypt.

Rice grows well in warm and wet monsoon areas of tropical regions.
There are two types of rice cultivation: dry system and wet system.
Rice cultivation requires:
- A growing season of about 5 months with a minimum temperature of 21°C.
- Annual rainfall of over 200mm, but not less than 1200mm.
- Flat land to permit the soil to retain water.
- Heavy fertile soils of clay to keep water for long periods.
Over 80% of the world's supply of rice comes from Asia.

The most important regions of commercial wheat production are between latitudes 30°N and 40°N, and 25°S and 45°S.
There are two main types of wheat: spring wheat and winter wheat.
Wheat grows well in regions with:
- High annual rainfall of 380-900mm.
- Temperatures between 15°C and 21°C.
- A warm, dry sunny period to enable the wheat to ripen.
- A growing season of at least 3 months.
- Rich loam soil that retains moisture and allows good supply of water.
- Fairly level land for mechanized farming.
Nearly 70% of the world's wheat is grown in North America, Canada, Europe, Ukraine, Australia, Argentina, and China.

Market gardening is the growing of vegetables and fruits for cities.
Main types of fibers are:
- Plant: cotton
- Animal: wool and silk
- Synthetic: nylon and acrylic

Cotton is classified according to the length of its fibre.
The cultivation of cotton requires:
- Annual rainfall of 500-1000mm or equivalent irrigation water.
- A growing season of about 200 days with temperatures of about 21°C and the complete absence of frost.
- Hot sunshine when the flowers are forming and when the bud is opening.
- A dry harvest season.
- Rich and deep soils with plenty of organic matter.
- Enough labor for tending the plants and picking the buds.
The USA produces more cotton than any other region.
Other major cotton producers include Europe, India, Pakistan, China, Mexico, and Brazil.