Key Factors Influencing Agricultural Spaces
Physical Factors of Agricultural Fields
- Sunny and Shady Slopes: Slope orientation affects sunlight exposure, influencing crop suitability.
- Rainfall: Optimal rainfall ranges between 900mm and 1200mm for many crops.
- Thermal Gradient: Temperature decreases approximately 6°C for every 100m increase in altitude.
- Wind Exposure: Strong winds can damage crops.
- Slope Inclination: Flat or gently sloping surfaces are easier to farm.
- Adverse Weather: Events like hail can cause catastrophic damage to crops.
- Soil: Soil thickness, texture, porosity, nutrient content (including pH), condition the types of plants that can thrive.
- Ground Cover: Helps maintain soil health.
- Altitude: Altitudes of 200mm or less are generally most suitable for agriculture.
- Temperature: A minimum temperature of 10°C is generally required; freezing temperatures (below 0°C) have negative effects.
Human Factors of Agricultural Space
- Population Growth: Increased population necessitates increased food production.
- Technological Advancement: Developed countries utilize specialized machinery and techniques like artificial irrigation, enabling cultivation in low-rainfall areas.
- Economic Conditions: Economic factors and product demand influence crop choices and farming techniques.
- Property and Exploitation: Land ownership can be individual or collective, and farm sizes vary (small, medium, large).
- Operating System and Land Tenure: Systems can be direct (landowner works the land) or indirect (landowner leases to other farmers).
- Agricultural Policy: Government actions address imbalances and modernize farms.
- Historical and Cultural Aspects: Past events and customs influence land division and agricultural practices.
Structure of Agricultural Space
Agricultural space is composed of plots, the basic unit of crop.
Size
Shape
The existence of limits: agricultural landscapes.
- Shifting Cultivation (Slash-and-Burn): Land is cultivated by burning vegetation; the ashes act as fertilizer. After the land is exhausted, it’s abandoned.
- Monsoon Asia Agriculture: An intensive system based on rice cultivation in small plots, using levees and canals for flood irrigation. Multiple harvests per year are common.
- Market-Oriented Agriculture: Characterized by high capital investment, modern techniques, high productivity, and commercialization of production.
- Modern European Agriculture: Intensive farming systems are prevalent, including techniques like sanding, drip irrigation, seed selection, hydroponics, and greenhouses, resulting in high productivity.
- Mediterranean Agriculture: Includes extensive farming in new countries and plantations.
Livestock Farming: Labor and Capital Investment
- Extensive Livestock Farming: Minimal capital investment, requiring large areas for grazing. Common livestock include cattle and sheep.
- Intensive Livestock Farming: Significant capital and labor investments for high productivity. Cattle are raised in humid areas, while pork and poultry farming is often located near industrial centers.