Agriculture and Forestry: English Vocabulary List

to use a large farming equipment to dig the ground and make it ready for farming

"Farmers plow the fields in spring."

"The farmer used a tractor to plow the field before planting the corn seeds in spring."

to break up the surface of the ground, remove weeds, etc. using a gardening tool with a thin metal blade attached to a long handle

"Hoe the weeds from the garden."

"The gardener used a hoe to remove the weeds that were growing between the vegetable rows."

to prepare the soil for planting by digging, stirring, or turning it over using a tool such as a plow or a tiller

"Till the soil before planting seeds."

"The farmer needs to till the soil before planting to make it loose and ready for seeds."

a chemical or natural material that is added to the soil to improve its productivity and help plants grow

"Farmers spread fertilizer across the large field"

"Farmers apply organic fertilizer to the soil to improve its fertility and promote healthy plant growth."

the process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil, replenishing soil moisture and reducing runoff

"Rainwater infiltration increased after heavy storms yesterday"

"Heavy rain improved the infiltration of water."

characterized by receiving very little rainfall, often with erratic precipitation patterns and a tendency towards drought conditions, but not as extreme as arid climates

"The region is semiarid."

"The semiarid region receives very little rainfall and the farmers struggle to grow crops without irrigation systems."

relating to trees with hard and dry fruits called cones and needle-shaped leaves

"The forest is coniferous."

"The coniferous forest is filled with evergreen trees like pine and spruce that keep their needles all year."

(of plants) annually losing leaves

"The tree is deciduous."

"The deciduous trees lose their leaves every autumn and new leaves grow back in the spring."

the practice of cultivating and managing forests, including the planting, growth, and harvesting of trees for timber production and ecosystem maintenance

"Silviculture focuses on managing forest ecosystems sustainably"

"Modern silviculture techniques help balance timber production with the long-term health of forest ecosystems."

an agricultural system where landowners allow tenants to use the land in exchange for a share of the crops produced

"Many families survived through sharecropping arrangements historically"

"Sharecropping allowed poor farmers to work the land even though they could not afford to buy it themselves."

a farming approach that uses technology to optimize crop production by precisely managing resources like water, fertilizer, and pesticides

"Precision agriculture uses technology."

"Precision agriculture optimizes crop production using data."

a farming system that combines agriculture with livestock grazing, where both activities are practiced on the same land

"Agropastoralism combines farming."

"Agropastoralism involves both crop growing and livestock herding."

a young plant that develops from a seed, typically in the early stages of growth after germination

"The gardener planted each seedling very carefully"

"Each seedling was transplanted into its own small pot to ensure it had enough space to grow."

a chemical substance or agent that is used to kill or control insects that can cause harm to humans, crops, animals, and structures

"Insecticide kills harmful garden pests."

"The farmer applied a potent insecticide to protect his crops from damaging pests, ensuring a healthier harvest."

a type of chemical substance that is used for killing insects or small animals that damage food or crops

"Farmers use pesticide to protect their crops from insects and other pests."

"A pesticide is a chemical substance designed to kill or control pests that damage crops"

a chemical substance that kills plants, used for destroying plants that are not wanted

"The farmer sprayed herbicide on weeds."

"An herbicide is a type of pesticide specifically formulated to kill unwanted plants"

to create stepped levels or flat areas on sloped land to prevent erosion and make the land suitable for farming or forestry

"They terraced the hillside for farming."

"The ancient Incas learned to terrace the mountainside to create flat land for farming."

solid waste from animals spread on a piece of land to help plants and crops grow healthier and stronger

"Animal manure enriches soil with natural nutrients"

"The farmer spread manure across the field every spring to improve the quality of the soil."

decayed leaves, plants, or other organic waste turned into a mixture that can improve the soil's quality and productivity once added to it

"They added compost to improve garden soil quality"

"She added vegetable scraps to her compost pile which would eventually become rich soil for her garden."

a protective layer of decaying leaves or compost that is spread over or around a plant to improve the quality of the soil, stop weeds from growing, or to provide protection for the plant's base and its roots

"Mulch helps plants retain moisture during summer"

"The gardener spread a thick layer of wood chip mulch around the strawberry plants to keep the soil moist and prevent weeds from growing."

the layer of decomposing organic matter, such as leaves, twigs, and other plant material, that accumulates on the soil surface

"The forest floor had duff."

"Duff is the layer of decaying organic matter on the forest floor."

to rid a garden or other area of land of unwanted plants

"Weed the garden every week."

"The gardener spends every Saturday morning weeding the flower beds to keep them looking neat."

a plant disease that causes withering, discoloration, or death without immediate rotting

"The potato blight destroyed many farms rapidly"

"Gardeners must act quickly when blight appears, or it can spread to the entire crop."

small animals or insects that are believed to be destructive and are difficult to handle when they appear in a considerable number

"The warehouse suffered from vermin infestation recently"

"The old barn was overrun with vermin, so the owner called an exterminator immediately."

the act of cutting down trees to use their wood

"Illegal logging damages forest."

"Illegal logging in the Amazon rainforest destroys habitats and contributes significantly to global carbon emissions."

the presence of large numbers of harmful insects, pests, or other organisms in an area, often causing damage to crops, trees, or natural environments

"The cockroach infestation was hard to eliminate."

"The termite infestation caused thousands of dollars in damage before the homeowner discovered it."

related to agriculture, farmers, or rural life

"The society is agrarian."

"The agrarian society depends on farming for its economy and most people live in rural areas and grow their own food."

a barren area of land that is unsuitable for agriculture or habitation

"The abandoned factory became a polluted wasteland"

"The area became a polluted wasteland after the factory closed."

a place used for storing grains or farm food

"Workers stored wheat inside the old granary"

"The village granary held enough grain to feed everyone through the long, harsh winter months."

a method of growing plants without soil, using nutrient-rich water solutions

"Hydroponics allows plants to grow without soil"

"Hydroponics grows plants without soil using nutrient solutions."

the excessive nutrients in water causing algae blooms, oxygen depletion, and ecological problems

"Eutrophication harms aquatic ecosystems and fish populations"

"Eutrophication occurs when fertilizers wash into rivers and lakes, causing serious environmental damage."

small seeds of a large crop that grows in warm regions, used to feed birds or make flour

"Millet grows well in dry farming regions"

"Millet is a nutritious ancient grain grown in dry areas."

a plant with bright orange or yellow flowers that produces seeds rich in oil

"Safflower seeds are often used for cooking oil"

"Safflower is grown for its seeds used in cooking oil."

the flower head of a plant from the cabbage family that is white in color and is eaten as a vegetable

"Cauliflower is a healthy vegetable."

"Cauliflower can be mashed as a low carbohydrate alternative to traditional mashed potatoes for dieters."

aquatic plants with finely divided underwater leaves, found in freshwater habitats like lakes and ponds

"Milfoil grew in the lake."

"Milfoil is an aquatic plant often found in ponds."

a deciduous tree known for its smooth bark, typically found in temperate and boreal forests

"The birch tree has white bark."

"The birch tree has distinctive white bark that peels off in thin papery layers."

a thread-like structure found in fungi, consisting of a chain of cells that collectively form the fungal mycelium, essential for nutrient absorption and growth

"Fungal hypha absorb nutrients from surrounding environments"

"The fungal hypha grows underground forming a network that absorbs nutrients from the soil."

a long green vegetable with edible stems, used in cooking or eaten raw

"Asparagus tastes better grilled."

"Fresh asparagus is best enjoyed in spring when the stalks are tender and full of flavor."

an edible root of red color with a pungent taste that is eaten raw in salads

"The salad had radish."

"Radishes grow quickly and have a spicy flavor."

a tall evergreen tree with fine-grained wood, valued for construction and known for its dense foliage

"The hemlock tree stood tall."

"The ancient hemlock tree provided shade for the entire park with its dense foliage."

a succulent herb with fleshy leaves, commonly used in salads and culinary dishes

"Purslane grows naturally in many warm climates"

"Purslane is a common weed that is actually edible and rich in omega three fatty acids."

to cut and collect a crop

"Farmers harvest wheat during the summer."

"Farmers usually harvest wheat in late summer when the grains are fully ripe and golden."

to grow plants or crops, especially for farming or commercial purposes

"They cultivate corn."

"Farmers must skillfully cultivate the land to maximize their crop yields."

(of a farm or an industry) to grow or produce a crop or product

"This tree yields delicious fruit every year."

"The fertile land is expected to yield a bountiful harvest of corn and soybeans this season."

the artificial application of water to land or soil to assist in the growing of crops and the maintenance of landscapes

"Farmers use irrigation during dry seasons."

"The farmer installed an irrigation system to water his crops during the dry season piping water from the river to his thirsty fields."

the amount of water falling to a particular location over a specified period

"Heavy precipitation fell."

"The annual precipitation in this region is significantly higher than in the surrounding arid areas."

(of food or farming techniques) produced or done without any artificial or chemical substances

"This apple is organic."

"The organic vegetables were more expensive than regular ones but they tasted fresher and better according to the customers who bought them."

to deliberately mate individuals of different breeds or varieties to produce offspring with desirable characteristics or traits

"We cross the breeds."

"Breeders often cross two distinct dog breeds to achieve a desirable combination of traits in the offspring."

a flat, wide area of land with no or very few trees in North America

"Buffalo once roamed across the vast prairie"

"The American prairie is home to many grasses and wildflowers."

a tall plant growing in Central America that produces yellow seeds, which are used in cooking

"Farmers harvested maize during the autumn season"

"Maize has been a staple food in many cultures for thousands of years across the Americas."

a group of edible plants that are typically harvested and cooked while still immature

"We cooked the squash."

"The autumnal harvest included various types of squash, perfect for roasting."

a type of fruit belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, typically with a hard outer shell, often used for containers, utensils, or as ornamental decorations

"The farmer displayed a giant gourd proudly"

"Gourds are used as containers and for decoration."

any type of plant whose pods contain seeds, such as peas and beans

"Beans are a healthy legume."

"A legume is a plant from the Fabaceae family whose fruit is a pod containing seeds"