Forest Products, Agriculture, and Farming Practices
Forest Products and Their Properties
Forests provide a variety of valuable products:
- Camphor: A white, crystalline substance with a pungent odor, extracted by distilling the wood of the camphor tree. It is used in medicine and cosmetics.
- Rubber: An elastic and waterproof substance obtained from the sap of the rubber tree. It is strategically important and primarily used for manufacturing tires.
- Cork: Thick sheets obtained from the bark of the cork oak tree. It is mainly used in manufacturing stoppers and insulation boards.
- Cellulose: A crucial plant substance found in the wood of trees. It is used in manufacturing paper and its derivatives, natural fabrics, film, and varnishes.
- Resin: A sticky substance secreted by plants, obtained through cuts in the trunks of trees like pines. It is used in manufacturing soaps and chemicals.
Types of Agricultural Markets
Market agriculture is characterized by high capitalization, the use of modern technology, high productivity, and the marketing of production (which, in turn, generates a solid transport infrastructure). It is practiced in developed countries or those undergoing further development. Forms of market agriculture include:
- Modern European Agriculture
- Mediterranean Agriculture
- Extensive Agriculture in “New” Countries
- Plantation Agriculture
Subsistence Agriculture Characteristics
Subsistence agriculture is characterized by the use of archaic techniques, a strong dependence on the physical environment, and low productivity. A large portion of the land and population is dedicated to farming, and production methods are allocated for consumption. It is practiced in less developed regions. The most significant models are:
- Shifting cultivation by fire or slash-and-burn
- Intensive Asian monsoon agriculture
Farming Practices: Monoculture and Polyculture
- Monoculture: The cultivation of a single plant species in a given agricultural area. Examples include cereals, legumes, cotton, coffee, sunflower, and sugar beet.
- Polyculture: The cultivation of different plant species in the same farm space. Among these, irrigated polyculture gardens are notable (fruit trees, peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, etc.).
Irrigation vs. Upland Farming
- Irrigation: The supply of large quantities of water to crops through various artificial irrigation methods (e.g., fruit, rice, cotton, vegetables).
- Upland: No artificial irrigation; receives water only from precipitation (e.g., pulses, sunflower, soybeans, cereals, grapes, olives, wheat).
Intensive vs. Extensive Agriculture
- Intensive: This system uses investment and working capital to get the most yield. Production is intended for trade.
- Extensive: This system does not use all available human or technical resources to maximize performance. Production is dedicated to the market or consumption.
Classification of Agricultural Plots
Plots, the basic units of cultivation, are classified as follows:
According to Their Size:
- Small: Less than 1 hectare.
- Medium: 1 to 10 hectares.
- Large: Over 10 hectares.
According to Their Shape:
- Regular: Has a geometric shape.
- Irregular: Does not have a defined geometric shape.
By the Presence or Absence of Boundaries:
- Closed-Fields: Plots are separated by rows of hedges, stone walls, etc.
- Open-Fields: Fields are not closed, nor are they separated by physical elements.