Agriculture: Crop cultivation and horticulture

Abstract

Alteration to the surface began with hoed cultivation; it is thus claimed that crop cultivation is the oldest production activity with geomorphic impact. The physical and social factors that influence the type, features, density, etc. of landforms resultant from agricultural activities are summarized. Crop cultivation has its main impact on the planation of the surface. Sloping surfaces impede cultivation, thus humans often reduced slope gradient or established horizontal plots. The relief of gently sloping areas gradually decreases by contour tillage. In areas with no soil conservation (such as in the Mediterranean) bare rocks indicate the full degradation of soils. In large-scale farming of mechanized cultivation, surface levelling is common. Mainly large-scale farmlands are also affected by wind erosion. In arid regions with water deficit, irrigated crop cultivation has been practised for ages and irrigation canals have formed an integral part of the agricultural landscape. Tillage modifies soil erodibility (slope, soil moisture, soil water management and structure, surface roughness and coverage) and thus water erosion, particularly on arable lands with soils on loess parent material. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.