Agriculture Glossary
Canopy
Canopy is the upper layer of a forest, formed by the crowns of trees. It plays a crucial role in forest ecology by providing habitat for wildlife and influencing the microclimate below.
Calcification
Calcification is the accumulation of calcium salts in soil or tissues. In agriculture, it can refer to the process of lime being added to soil to improve its structure and nutrient availability.
Capital Goods
Capital Goods are assets utilized to produce other goods and services. These are long-term items such as machinery, buildings, and tools, essential for manufacturing and production processes.
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system where private individuals or businesses own capital goods. The production and prices of goods and services are determined mainly through competition in a free market.
Capitalist Economy
In a Capitalist Economy, private ownership prevails over the means of production. The allocation of resources is directed by market forces rather than central planning.
Carbon Cycle
The Carbon Cycle is the natural process of carbon circulating through the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms. It involves the absorption of carbon dioxide by plants during photosynthesis and its release through respiration and decomposition.
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas vital for life on Earth. It is absorbed by plants during photosynthesis and emitted by living organisms during respiration. It plays a crucial role in regulating the planet’s temperature.
Carcinogen
A Carcinogen is a substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue. These can be chemicals, like pesticides, or physical agents, such as radiation.
Carrier
A Carrier is a substance added to a chemical compound to facilitate its storage, transport, and application. In agriculture, carriers are often used with pesticides and fertilizers to enhance their effectiveness.
Cash Crop
A Cash Crop is grown primarily for sale rather than for personal consumption by the farmer. Examples include cotton, tobacco, and coffee, which are often exported to generate revenue
Case Study
A Case Study is an in-depth examination of a particular event, situation, or individual. It provides detailed insights and helps develop analytical skills by exploring real-life scenarios.
Calf Crop
The Calf Crop is the number or percentage of calves born in a herd during a specific year compared to the number of breeding females.
Catch Crop
A Catch Crop is a quick-growing crop planted between main crops. It is often used to make the best use of growing seasons and can serve as a contingency plan if the primary crop fails.
Catchment Area
The Catchment Area is the region from which all precipitation flows to a common outlet, such as a river or reservoir. It is crucial for managing water resources and preventing floods.
Chemical
A Chemical is any substance with a distinct molecular composition produced by or used in a chemical process. Chemicals can be natural or synthetic and are used widely in agriculture and industry.
Chemigation
Chemigation is the process of applying agricultural chemicals through irrigation water. This method allows for efficient distribution of fertilizers and pesticides.
Chiselling
Chiselling refers to breaking up soil with a chisel plow. This process loosens the soil without turning it over, which helps retain moisture and organic matter.
Chisel
A Chisel is a farming implement used to break up and loosen soil. It is particularly useful for deep tillage to improve soil structure without turning over the soil layers.
Circle of Poison
The Circle of Poison refers to the phenomenon where banned pesticides in developed countries are exported to developing countries, used on crops, and then these pesticide-laden crops are imported back into the developed countries.
Climate
Climate encompasses the long-term patterns of temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation in a particular region. Unlike weather, which can change daily, climate represents average conditions over long periods.
Climate Change
Climate Change refers to significant and lasting changes in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It can be caused by natural factors, such as volcanic eruptions, and human activities, such as deforestation and burning fossil fuels.
Complex Fertilizers
Complex Fertilizers contain two or more primary nutrients essential for plant growth, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These fertilizers are formulated to provide balanced nutrition to crops.
Compost
Compost is decayed organic material used as a fertilizer for plants. It is created by decomposing organic matter such as leaves, food scraps, and manure, enriching the soil with nutrients.
Commodities
Commodities are basic goods and services that are interchangeable with others of the same type. They include agricultural products, minerals, and energy resources that can be bought and sold in markets.
Community
A Community is a group of interacting individuals sharing a common environment and cultural background. They work together and often depend on each other for social, economic, and environmental support.
Conservation Tillage
Conservation Tillage is an agricultural method that minimizes soil disturbance, retaining crop residues on the soil surface. This technique helps reduce erosion, maintain soil fertility, and improve water retention.
Contaminant
A Contaminant is any substance that, when present in the environment, can cause harm to human health or the ecosystem. Common contaminants include pesticides, heavy metals, and industrial chemicals.
Contour Farming
Contour Farming involves conducting agricultural activities such as plowing, planting, and harvesting along the contour lines of a field. This practice helps reduce soil erosion and water runoff.
Contour Plowing
Contour Plowing is the practice of plowing along the contours of the land, rather than in straight lines. This method helps reduce soil erosion and water runoff, promoting better water absorption and soil conservation.
Convention
A Convention is a formal agreement between countries on specific issues, often related to environmental protection or human rights. Conventions create legal obligations for the participating countries to adhere to agreed-upon standards and practices.
Conventional Agriculture
Conventional Agriculture relies on chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and mechanized farming techniques to produce crops. This method aims to maximize yield and efficiency but often raises concerns about environmental and health impacts.
Convenience Food
Convenience Food refers to processed food products designed for easy preparation and consumption. These often contain high levels of fats, sugars, and salts, and are marketed by large multinational companies.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Cost-Benefit Analysis is a systematic process of comparing the costs and benefits of a project or decision. It helps determine whether the benefits outweigh the costs and if the project is economically viable.
Cover Crops
Cover Crops are plants grown to cover the soil rather than for the purpose of being harvested. They help prevent soil erosion, improve soil health, and manage water, weeds, pests, and diseases.
Cowboy Economy
The term Cowboy Economy describes an economic approach that assumes endless natural resources and the environment’s unlimited capacity to absorb waste. It often leads to unsustainable exploitation of resources.
Crop Rotation
Crop Rotation involves growing different types of crops in the same area across a sequence of seasons. This practice helps maintain soil fertility, reduce soil erosion, and decrease the risk of pests and diseases.
Cultivar
A Cultivar is a plant variety that has been produced in cultivation by selective breeding. Cultivars are developed for specific desirable traits, such as disease resistance or improved yield.
Cultivator
A Cultivator is a machine used for tilling soil. It is primarily employed to remove weeds and aerate the soil, promoting better crop growth.
Culture
Culture refers to the shared beliefs, customs, practices, and social behavior of a particular nation or people. It shapes how individuals interact with each other and their environment.
Horticulture Glossary
Drought-Resistant Crops
Cultivating crops like ber, custard apple, amla, and mango that require less water.
