Factors that influence arable farming
Human fators
• Increase in population: requires greater production and more arable land.
• Agricultural policies: Whether national or international, contribute to agricultural development.
• Farming techniques: Subsistence o commercial agriculture.
Physical factors
• Geographical factors: Climate, relief, soil…
Agricultural landscapes I• Types of settlement:
Concentrated rural settlement Scattered rural settlement
Agricultural landscapes II• Plot characteristics depends on:
• Size: Small or large
• Shape: Regular or irregular
• Boundaries: Enclosed or open
Open field: Large holding, regular plot, without boundaries.
Enclosed fields: small and irregular plots separated by hedges.
Subsistence agriculture vs. commercial agriculture
Slash and burn cultivation
Irrigated rice farming
Extensive dryland farming
Subsistence Agriculture
Extensive cereal farming
Plantation agriculture
Mediterranean Agriculture
Commercial Agriculture
Livestock farming
• Traditional• Local consumption
• Complements arable farming
• Small flocks
• Includes nomadism
Commercial livestock farming:Intensive Extensive
- Aims to make the highest possible profit
- Highly mechanised
- Produces for national and international market
Forestry• Silviculture: Cultivation of forests for exploitation in a sustainable way.
• Timber production for:• Construction
• Furniture
• Cellulose
• Primary energy source:• Cooking
• Heating
• Lighting
Forestry
Less developed areas
• Complement to agriculture
Developed areas• Fine cuisine
• Source of food:
The primary sector in Spain I: Farms• Latifundia:
• Large holdings. More than 100 hectares.
• Extensive agriculture
• Mechanised farming.
• Areas: Castilla La Mancha, Extremadura, Andalucía.
• Medium-sized farms:
• Around 30 hectares
• Tend to be family owned
• Oriented towards high quality products
• Areas: Sub-Meseta Norte, and Mediterranean coast
• Agricultural smallholdings:
• Less than 10 hectares
• Intensive and polyculture
• Areas: Northern half of Spain and archipielagos.
The primary sector in Spain II: Agriculture
• Rainfed crops:• Cultivation: Wheat, vines and olive trees.
• Areas:• Central Spain: Wheat
• Atlantic and Mediterranean regions: Vines
• Andalusia, Ciudad Real and Badajoz: Olives
• Irrigated crops:• Cultivation: Citrus, Pome fruits, stone fruits and garden vegetables.
• Areas:• Mediterranean region
• Almeria’s greenhouses
• Guadalquivir valley
The primary sector in Spain III: Livestock
• 2nd country in EU in livestock farming and production.
• Types:• Cattle: For meat and milk.
• Sheep: For meat and meal. Wool production is residual.
• Pigs: For meat.
• Poultry: Meat and eggs. Highly industrialised with high yields.
Livestock farming areas
The primary sector in Spain IV: Fishing• Spanish fishing Industry is one of the biggest of
the EU.
• Overfishing has caused the depletion of many species.
• Fishing regions:• North west: Galician coast has the largest volume of
fishing. Port of Vigo is the most important fishing port of Spain.
• Cantabrian region: Asturias, Cantabria and Basque Country. Important ports of Bermeo, San Sebastian and Gijón.
• Mediterranean: Stand out the ports of Almería, Castellón, Tarragona y Roses (Girona)
• South Atlantic: Coast of Huelva and Cádiz. Valuable species like lobsters and prawns from African coasts.
• Canary Islands: Las Palmas and Arrecife are the most important ports. Deep sea fishing from African coasts.