1. RURAL AREAS
DEFINITIONS OF UNIT´S CONCEPTS:
-Rural areas: place in the countryside, a
non-urban space.
-Agricultural landscape: natural landscape
transformed by agricultural activities.
-PROBLEMS:
How do agricultural activities transform the
landscape?
PLANNING:
1.- Elements of the agricultural landscape.
2.-Factors
3.- Types of landscapes

2. Introductions: rural areas
tertiary
habitats
RURAL
PRIMARY
livestock
forestry
AGRICULTURAL
agriculture
secondary
fishing

3. 1.-Elements of agrarian areas
1.1 Rural habitats:
– concentrated
– scattered
1.2. The plots:
–Monocultures/polycultures
–Enclosed/openfields
–Dry farming/ Irrigated
farming

4. The rural habitat
A. Concentrated
B. Scattered

5. The plots (1)
• Enclosed • Openfield
Privately owned plots with no fences or
separation.
Plots diveded by fences, hedges. Also
called bocage.

6. The plots (2):polycultures
• Dry farming • Irrigated farming

7. The plots (3):monocultures
• Dry farming • Irrigated farming

8. Now your turn!
Q1:Write down the
characteristics of the following
landscapes:

9. Nº 1
• A) monocultures,
irrigated farming
• B) polyculture,
dryfarming
• C) polyculture, dry
and irrigated farming

10. Nº 2
• A) polyculture,
bocage, dry farming
• B) polyculture,
openfield, irrigated
farming
• C) monoculture,
bocage, irrigated
farming

11. Nº 3
• A) bocage, dry
farming
• B) openfield, dry
farming
• C) openfield,
extensive livestock

12. Nº 4

13. Nº 5

14. Nº 6

15. 2.- The factors
• PHYSICAL:
– Climate
– Relief
– Water
– Sun
– Vegetation
• HUUMANS:
– Historical
– Demographic
– Economic
– Political
– Technical

16. Physical factors: the climate

17. Physical factors: the relief

18. Physical factors : the water
Greenhouses in Almeria.
Q2: Where do you think
the water for irrigation
comes from?

19. Human factors
Ex 1 : Rice cultivation in
Asia
-Demographic pressure
-Increase of demand
-Historically important
-Low technology

20. Human factors
• Ex. 2 : Great Plains
in North America:
-Commercial
agriculture
-High technology
-Government policies:
aid with subsidies
…

21. Now your turn!
Q3: What factors influence
the following landscapes?

23. 3.- Types of landscapes
3.1. Subsistance
landscapes:
-Traditional agiculture
-Rice cultivation in Asia
3.2. Developed
landscapes:
-Plantations
-Agriculture in Europe
-The Great Plains in
North America

24. Subsistance agriculture: Traditional
• Subsistance
agriculture
• Old techniques
• Low productivity
• Intensive methods

25. Now your turn!
Q4:Why does traditional
agriculture use intensive
methods?

26. Traditional landscapes : Rice cultivation in
Asia
• Highest rural
population of the
world.
• Old technicques
• Intensive
monoculture: high
yield, abundant labour.
• Several harvests a year

27. Now your turn!
• Q5: What three physical factors
are necessary for the cultivation
of rice?

28. Commercial Agriculture: Plantations
• Coastal tropical
countries
• Products: coffee, tea,
cocoa.
• Commerical
agriculture
• High technology
• Strong investments
• Abundant labour, low
wages

29. Now your turn!
• Coffee plantations in Mexico:
• Q 6: Why are
plantations located in
coastal areas?

30. Developed countries: Commercial
agriculture in Europe
• High yield
• Mechanization, seeds
selection, fertilizers
and pesticides
• Specialization
• Market gardening
• CAP

31. Now your turn!
• Q 7: Think over:
How has european agriculture been
able to increase production in spite
of reducing the number of farmers
working in the primary sector?

32. 3.2. Developed countries: Great
Plains in North Amercia
• Market oriented
• Big plots of land.
Geometrical shape.
• Extensive method:
high yield and
scarce labour.

33. Now your turn!
• Q8: Each american farmer can produce
enough food to feed one hundred USA
citizens,
How do you think he accomplishes this
result?

34. Q9: Which of these agricultural practices is the most
intensive? And the least intensive?
USA France Netherlands
Active surface
(in ha)
153 22,4 8,5
Production per
ha ($)
198 984 4 203
Production per
active farmer
($)
30 250 22 042 35 725