Agricultural practices, soil conservation, and land-use concepts as tested on AP Environmental Science. Front: the term or concept. Back: a plain-language definition.
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- Subsistence farming
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Agriculture where farmers grow food primarily for their own consumption, with little surplus to sell- Commercial agriculture
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Large-scale farming focused on producing crops or livestock for sale and profit rather than family consumption- Slash-and-burn agriculture
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A farming method where vegetation is cut down and burned to clear and fertilize land, usually for temporary cultivation- Monoculture
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The practice of growing a single crop repeatedly on the same land over many years- Soil erosion
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The removal and transport of topsoil by wind or water, reducing soil fertility and exposing subsoil- Desertification
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The conversion of productive land into desert, typically caused by drought, overgrazing, or poor farming practices- Deforestation
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The permanent removal of forest to convert land to non-forest use such as agriculture, pasture, or urban development- Topsoil
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The uppermost layer of soil, rich in organic matter and nutrients, essential for plant growth- Soil horizons
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Distinct horizontal layers within a soil profile, each with different characteristics, composition, and origin- Soil compaction
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The compression of soil by heavy machinery or livestock, which reduces pore space and harms plant growth- Contour plowing
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A conservation practice of plowing along the contours of a slope rather than straight up and down- Terracing
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A soil conservation technique where sloped land is cut into level steps to slow water runoff and reduce erosion- Windbreaks
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Rows of trees or shrubs planted to reduce wind speed and protect soil from wind erosion- No-till agriculture
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A farming method where soil is not plowed, minimizing disturbance to preserve soil structure and reduce erosion- Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
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A U.S. federal program that pays farmers to remove land from production and establish conservation practices
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