GGR107H1 Chapter 3: Agricultural Systems
Document Summary
Agriculture: the rearing of animals and the production of crop plants through cultivating the soil. It is a manifestation of the interaction between people and the environment. Agricultural geography includes spatial distribution of crops and livestock, the systems of management employed, the nature of linkages to the broader economic, social, cultural, political and ecological systems, and the broad spectrum of food production, processing, marketing and consumption. Six key factors can be recognized as influencing the distribution of farming types: biological, physical, economic, political, socio-cultural and marketing. There is reciprocal relationship between environmental factors and agricultural activity. Environment affects the nature of farming, exerting a wide range of controls, but, in turn, farming affects the environment. Agricultural systems are modifications of natural ecosystems; they are artificial human creations in which productivity is increased through control of soil fertility, vegetation, fauna, and microclimate. The plants and animals have inherent biological characteristics that largely determine their productivity.
