Agricultural land

Agricultural land refers to the portion of Earth's surface dedicated to agriculture, the systematic and controlled use of other forms of life—particularly the growing of crops and the raising of livestock—to produce food for humans. It is thus generally synonymous with both farmland or cropland, as well as pasture or rangeland.

Definition and Classification

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations defines agricultural land as land that is either arable, under permanent crops, or under permanent pastures. Arable land includes land defined by the FAO as land under temporary crops, temporary meadows for mowing or for pasture, land under market or kitchen gardens, and land temporarily fallow. Permanent crops are crops that do not need to be replanted for several years, such as cocoa, coffee, and rubber; this category also includes fruit orchards and vineyards. Permanent pastures are lands used for five or more years for forage, including natural and artificial grasslands and shrublands.

Importance of Agricultural Land

Agricultural land is critical for human survival and development. It provides the food and fibers that are essential for human life and serves as the foundation for many economies around the world. The management and conservation of agricultural land are crucial for food security, enabling not only current but also future generations to meet their needs.

Challenges

The world faces numerous challenges in maintaining and increasing the productivity of agricultural land. These include soil degradation, water scarcity, climate change, and urbanization. Soil degradation, resulting from practices such as overgrazing, use of inappropriate agricultural practices, and deforestation, reduces the land's productivity and its ability to store carbon, thus exacerbating climate change. Water scarcity affects agricultural land, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, limiting the production of crops and the raising of livestock. Climate change poses a significant threat to agricultural land through increased temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events. Urbanization leads to the loss of agricultural land as cities expand to accommodate growing populations.

Conservation and Sustainable Use

To address these challenges, sustainable agricultural practices are being promoted. These practices aim to increase productivity while ensuring the conservation of the land's fertility and biodiversity. Techniques include crop rotation, conservation tillage, and the use of organic fertilizers. Additionally, the protection of agricultural land from urban sprawl and industrial development is a critical component of conservation efforts.

Global Distribution

The distribution of agricultural land varies greatly around the world, influenced by factors such as climate, soil fertility, and technology. Countries with extensive arable land include the United States, India, Russia, and China, which are among the world's leading agricultural producers.

See Also

• Sustainable agriculture
• Land degradation
• Irrigation
• Agroforestry
• Food security