Extensive Agriculture AP Human Geography Practice Questions

📚 Topic Summary

Extensive agriculture involves agricultural practices that require large areas of land but minimal labor and capital input per unit of land. It's often contrasted with intensive agriculture, which focuses on maximizing yields from smaller plots of land. Think vast fields of wheat or sprawling ranchlands. These methods are typically used where land is abundant and/or the climate or soil conditions aren't suited for intensive farming. Understanding extensive agriculture helps in analyzing global food production patterns and land use.

🧠 Part A: Vocabulary

Match the term with the correct definition:

1. Term: Nomadic Herding
2. Term: Ranching
3. Term: Shifting Cultivation
4. Term: Extensive Agriculture
5. Term: Market Gardening

1. Definition: A form of agriculture that involves moving livestock from place to place in search of grazing land.
2. Definition: A type of commercial agriculture where livestock graze over large areas.
3. Definition: An agricultural system in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned and allowed to revert to their natural vegetation while the cultivator moves on to another plot.
4. Definition: Agricultural practices involving large areas of land but minimal labor and capital input per unit of land.
5. Definition: Relatively small-scale production of fruits, vegetables, and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold directly to consumers and restaurants.

(Match the terms with their definitions.)

✏️ Part B: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the following paragraph with the correct terms:

________ agriculture typically relies on natural rainfall patterns and soil fertility, making it vulnerable to environmental changes. In areas with limited water resources, ________ may be used to supplement rainfall, although the overall investment remains lower compared to intensive farming. An example of this is ________, found in places like the Pampas region of Argentina, where large herds of cattle graze on vast grasslands.

(Word Bank: Extensive, Ranching, Irrigation)

🌍 Part C: Critical Thinking

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of extensive agricultural practices in the context of sustainability and global food security.