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.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Erdősi F (1969) Az antropogén geomorfológia mint új földrajzi tudományág (Anthropogenic geomorphology as a new discipline of geography). Földr Közl 93(1): 11–26
Erdősi F (1987) A társadalom hatása a felszínre, a vizekre és az éghajlatra a Mecsek tágabb környezetében (The Impact of Society on the Surface, Water and Climate in the Broader Environment of the Mecsek Mountains). Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest
Kiss T (2000) Futóhomok területek felszíndinamikája természeti és társadalmi hatások tükrében – dél-nyírségi vizsgálatok alapján (Surface Dynamics of Wind-blown Sand Areas with a Focus on Physical and Social Impacts – Based on Studies Carried out in the Southern Nyírség Region). Ph.D Thesis. Manuscript, DE TTK, Debrecen
Láng G (1961) Növénytermesztés (Crop Cultivation). Mezőgazdasági Kiadó, Budapest
Rathjens C (1979) Die Formung der Erdoberflache unter dem Einfluss des Menschen. Teubner, Stuttgart
Stefanovits P, Filep Gy, Füleky Gy (1999) Talajtan (Soil Science). Mezőgazda Kiadó, Budapest
Szabó J (1993) A társadalom hatása a földfelszínre – antropogén geomorfológia (The impact of society on the surface of the Earth – anthropogenic geomorphology). In: Borsy Z (ed.), Általános természetföldrajz. Nemzeti Tankönyvkiadó, Budapest
Szabó J, Dávid L (eds.) (2006) Antropogén geomorfológia (Anthropogenic Geomorphology) University notes. Kossuth Egyetemi Kiadó, Debrecen (the Hungarian version of this book)
Website Sources
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lóki, J. (2010). Agriculture: Crop Cultivation and Horticulture. In: Szabó, J., Dávid, L., Lóczy, D. (eds) Anthropogenic Geomorphology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3058-0_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3058-0_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-3057-3
Online ISBN: 978-90-481-3058-0
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)