The agricultural space is the technical-economic unit where agricultural, livestock and forestry activities take place. It includes both the lands destined or suitable for grazing, as well as those dedicated to vegetable crops.
Also known as agrarian landscape, the agricultural space is that territory that is inserted in the rural environment and that has areas suitable for the practice and development of the activities of the agricultural sector.
This space is made up of two elements: the inhabited space and the cultivated space. The inhabited space, or rural habitat, is one where a population is established. Depending on the type of settlement, it can be concentrated or dispersed. The cultivated space is destined exclusively to agricultural exploitation, and is made up of plots.
The formation and use of agricultural space, from the economic point of view, is delimited by natural and human factors that favor (or deteriorate) agricultural practices in a certain area.
Natural factors of the agricultural space
Among the natural factors are:
- Climatic factors: temperature, frequency of rainfall, etc.
- Edaphological factors: refers to the physical and chemical characteristics of the soils. Each plant needs a specific type of soil, and in turn, each soil has a chemical and biological composition that determines its degree of acidity and its richness in organic matter, and that makes it favorable for certain crops.
- The relief: agriculture is usually carried out successfully in plains and valleys. In the case of cultivating mountain slopes, it is necessary to modify the terrain by creating a terrace irrigation system.
- Altitude: depending on this factor, there is the presence of thermal or climatic floors that establish a criterion on the species that can be cultivated and raised in a certain area, according to the increase in altitude.
- Hydric conditions: this factor directly affects the levels of drought and soil moisture. In addition, if the soil has a good drainage system, the conditions for sowing and harvesting will be the most favorable.
Human factors of agricultural space
The main human factors that influence the development of agricultural space are:
- Demographic pressure: refers to the volume of the population and the need to meet the nutritional requirements of said population.
- Technological innovations: the optimization of land use will depend, to a large extent, on the technology used for it.
- The final destination of production: a distinction must be made between subsistence agriculture, intended for the family's own consumption, and market agriculture, which is carried out for commercial purposes.
- Political organization and agrarian legislation: this factor includes the legal framework of agricultural practices, hydrological plans to implement new irrigation mechanisms and financing plans for farmers.
As part of the primary sector of the economy, the relevance of agriculture and livestock is undeniable.
The agricultural space represents the interrelation of natural and human elements for the production of foodstuffs and thus represents an aspect of great importance from the economic and social point of view.
References
- Cañete, M. (2013). The agrarian space and its factors. Blog Approach the Social. Recovered from: abouttealassociales.blogspot.com
- Dalles, P. (2014). Characteristics of the agrarian space. Color ABC newspaper. Asuncion, Paraguay. Recovered from: abc.com.py.
- Guide on agricultural activity as the fundamental basis of the economic structure of Venezuela (2012). Caracas Venezuela. Recovered from: sites.google.com.
- Merino, S. (2012). Agrarian Space. Madrid Spain. Recovered from: geotercero.50webs.com.