Page 162 - SST Class 08

inputs and the methods they will use. Their longer duration of the day. The total amount of
decisions are based upon a range of social, heat received is enough for ripening of crops.
economic and environmental factors. The farm- Soil : A rich soil in plant food is the chief
ers’ attitudes and level of knowledge are also requirement of successful agriculture. It is essen-
important. Some of the physical and economic tial as a support for plants and as the main
factors which greatly influence agriculture are as medium whereby water and all plant foods,
under : except carbon dioxide, are brought to the roots

g The cultivation of vegetables for direct sale of the plants where they are absorbed. Soils that
to the consumers and restaurants is called are poor, either chemically or in texture, have
truck gardening. low productivity, both in amount and variety.
g The cultivation of fruits is called horticulture. Economic Factors : The economic factors
g The breeding of fish in specially developed include the availability of farm inputs, adequate
ponds is called pisciculture. and cheap labour, transport facilities, markets
and loans for the farmers. The main farm inputs
g The commercial rearing of silkworms in
are seeds, fertilizers, machinery and labour.
order to obtain silk is called sericulture.
Other important factors are the system of land
g The cultivation of grapevine for the produc-
tenure, land use, availability of farm machinery,
tion of grapes is called viticulture.
government policies and the level of scientific
g The cultivation of flowers is called floricul- and technological developments.
ture.
Market : Relation to market generally deter-
Relief : The land on which crops are grown is mines the character of farming, for the cost of
known as arable land. The lowlands such as river transport to the market will generally affect the
basins, flood plains and deltas are more suitable
competitive power of the agricultural output.
for the growth and development of agriculture
Places away from the market will generally grow
than the highlands. In the lowlands, dense
such things which can afford the cost of transport
population not only provides adequate and to the market.
cheap labour, but also a ready market for farm
Places near large centers of population generally
products. In the hilly areas, soil erosion is rapid.
develop market gardening and produce easily
Moreover, farm machinery cannot be used and
perishable goods which can be transported to the
the means of transport are limited.
market for short distances without much dam-
Climatic Condition : All forms of agriculture age.
are controlled largely by temperature. Areas
deficient in heat are deficient in agriculture. For
that, there is one element of climate that man has
not been able to create at economic costs on a
large scale. Temperature determines the growth
of vegetation through determining the length of
the vegetative period.
Successful agriculture, therefore, requires a fairly
long summer. In higher latitudes, however, the
shortness of summer is compensated by the

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