Farming and Agriculture Overview

Farming (aka Agriculture)

• Farming involves inputs (sunlight, soil nutrients, seeds, labour, technology), processes (planting, harvesting, fertilisation), outputs (crops, residues), and results (money, food).
• Farming types include intensive and extensive, differentiated by the level of inputs and technology used.
• Intensive farming relies heavily on technology and machinery, while extensive farming relies more on natural resources and human/animal power.
• Farming regions vary in their suitability for different types of farming, influenced by factors like climate, topography, and availability of resources.
• Examples of farming regions: Xibei (extensive pastoral), Huabei/Dongbei (mixed), and Huanan (intensive arable).
• Climate factors impacting farming include rainfall, temperature, and wind patterns.
• These factors affect yields and the types of crops that can be cultivated.
• Rainfall patterns, including seasonal variations, impact crop yield significantly.
• Topography affects the availability of land and the types of farming practices that can be employed.
• Relief (hills, valleys, slopes) will influence how the land is used for agriculture.
• Problems associated with farming include harsh climates (e.g., droughts, floods, extreme cold), pests, and difficulties caused by soil conditions (loss of fertile soil, soil erosion, improper farming methods and desertification.
• Environmental concerns include pollution (solid waste, acidic rain), and land use (urban sprawl, residential, transport).
• Climate variability, relief, and the use of land affect vertical and horizontal scales in agriculture.
• Vertical exaggeration refers to depicting terrain with exaggerated vertical dimensions relative to the horizontal dimensions.
• Different land forms include concave, convex, and spur slopes, cliffs, and valleys.
• Each landform shape affects farming approaches.

Explore the fundamentals of farming, including inputs, processes, and outputs. Understand the differences between intensive and extensive farming, their regional suitability, and climate factors affecting yields. This quiz will enhance your knowledge of agricultural practices and their environmental impacts.