AP Human Geography - Unit 5 Overview

Introduction

• Welcome to Unit 5 of AP Human Geography.
• Exploration of different agricultural practices and their correlation with physical environments.

Influence of Climate on Agriculture

• Tropical Climates: (e.g., Indonesia, African equator regions)
  • Products: coffee, sugar, pineapple.
• Subtropical Climates: (e.g., West Indies, parts of Indonesia)
  • Products: rice, cotton, tobacco.
• Grasslands and Continental Steppe: (e.g., Mongolia, Western USA, Northern Africa)
  • Activities: cattle ranching, sheep, goats, horses, camels.
• Mediterranean Climates: (e.g., California, Chile, Mediterranean Sea region)
  • Products: grapes, olives, dates.
• Warm Mid-Latitude Climates: (e.g., Southern China, Southern USA)
  • Products: various vegetables, fruits, rice.
• Cold Mid-Latitude Climates: (e.g., North Central USA, Southern Canada, Eastern Europe)
  • Products: wheat, barley, livestock, dairy.

Technological Advancements

• Reduction of barriers to food production through technology.
• Use of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides to increase yield.
• Genetic modification for faster, larger growth in non-native environments.
• New farming methods: greenhouses, vertical farming, community gardens.
• Advanced irrigation, GPS, GIS for better crop management.
• Examples of environmental possibilism, countering Malthus's arithmetic food production growth.

Agricultural Practices

Intensive Agricultural Practices

• Characteristics: less land, more capital and labor, high yield potential.
• Locations: closer to larger population centers.
• Examples:
  • Plantation Agriculture:
    • Location: periphery countries, former colonies, tropical climates.
    • Characteristics: cheap labor, cash crops (e.g., coffee, sugar, tobacco).
    • Issues: arable land used for export, not local consumption.
  • Mixed Crop and Livestock Agriculture:
    • Location: economically developed countries.
    • Characteristics: crops (corn, soybeans) used to feed livestock.
  • Market Gardening (Truck Farms):
    • Location: areas with longer growing seasons (e.g., Southeastern USA).
    • Characteristics: fruits and vegetables grown, harvested by migrant labor.

Extensive Agricultural Practices

• Characteristics: more land, less labor and capital, lower yield.
• Locations: farther from population centers.
• Examples:
  • Shifting Cultivation:
    • Location: tropical climates (e.g., Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia).
    • Process: clear land, plant until nutrients deplete, leave land fallow.
  • Nomadic Herding:
    • Location: Central/Southwest Asia, Northern Africa.
    • Characteristics: movement with animals (cattle, sheep, goats), less possession.
  • Ranching:
    • Location: areas unsuitable for traditional farming, cheaper land farther from urban centers.

Conclusion

• Encouragement to engage with additional resources for further learning.
• Reminder to participate in activities to check understanding.