100+ Words Related to Agriculture

November 3, 2023

When it comes to the word “agriculture,” most people associate it with crops or the preparation of plant products for human or animal consumption. However, the agriculture industry is vast and critical to food production and economic development. So, it’s not surprising that there is a wide array of words related to agriculture that you may or may not have heard of. In this article, we’ll go through the most common agriculture-related terms, as well as their definitions.

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Horticulture

If you’ve heard of “horticulture” and are uncertain what it means, just remember that it is a combination of the Latin word “hortus,” which means garden, and the English term “agriculture.” In short, it involves growing plants (fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals) in your garden. And unlike agriculture, your production is only small-scale.

Tillage

Many people believe that farmers just plant seeds directly into the soil. However, that’s not the case. Tillage or preparation of the soil is essential for successful plant growth and production. Why? Every time you break up the soil, you are increasing its porosity, which, in return, allows the water to travel efficiently throughout the soil. And, in case you didn’t know, it’s crucial that water reaches the roots of a plant.

Cultivation

Another word related to agriculture is “cultivation,” which basically means an agricultural act of “cultivating.” In a nutshell, cultivation is the tender, loving care you give to your crop. That could include adding organic, toxic-free herbicides or pesticides, adding organic mulch, and pruning plants for healthier growth. Adding protective coverage from weather and temperature elements also assists with improving cultivation.

Crop Rotation

Crop rotation is exactly what it means; you rotate crops. Why would you do this? Well, this strategy encourages healthier soil, fewer diseases, and insect and weed reduction. There are many ways you can implement crop rotation in your gardening. One of the most popular is the four-crop rotation method, in which you divide and group your plants into root crops, leaf crops, legumes, and fruit crops.

Irrigation

In residential backyard gardens, you water plants using a garden hose or the traditional water planter. But how about larger farms? Well, farmers use an irrigation system. It is the most efficient way of delivering routine and timed watering to crops.

Pesticide

Pests can destroy crops. In order to combat them, farmers and gardeners use pesticides, which is another popular term to build your agriculture vocabulary. Pesticides are chemicals formulated to kill pests (rodents, insects, and even evasive plants). Keep in mind that pesticide is a broader term. If you only want to target insects, you will need an insecticide.

Whatever pesticide variant you will be using, keep in mind that pesticides are toxic to pets, humans, and the environment. Always opt for alternatives like diatomaceous earth.

Livestock

Believe it or not, livestock is part of agriculture. As a matter of fact, if you check online resources, agriculture is divided into four: crops, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture, and forestry.

So, what does livestock mean? It’s the domesticated animals such as cattle, goats, sheep, chickens, and pigs that farmers raise either for labor or byproducts like eggs and milk.

Greenhouse

Harsh weather conditions can put a halt to farming activities. The solution? A greenhouse, which is basically like a house for plants. This structure protects crops and plants from intense sun exposure and weather elements that would otherwise interfere with their growth.

To further supplement plant growth, gardeners and farmers can add grow lights and ventilation.