Arable land

In geography, arable land (from Latin arare, to plough ) is a form of agricultural land use, meaning land that can be (and is) used for growing crops. David Ricardo incorporated the idea of arable land into economic theory.

Related Topics:
Geography - Latin - Plough - Agricultural - Land use - Land - Crops - David Ricardo - Economic - Theory

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Of the earth's 57 million square miles (148,000,000 km²) of land, more than 12 million square miles (31,000,000 km²) are arable.

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Most of the arable land on earth is around the largest rivers on earth. Some examples are: the Nile River, the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, the Yellow River, the Amazon River, and the Rhine River. These rivers flood regularly, overspilling their banks. When the flood is over, the rivers recede, leaving behind rich silt. This silt is excellent fertilizer for crops. Even if the land is overfarmed, and all the nutrients are depleted from the soil, the land renews its fertility when the next flood comes. Rivers and streams can make desert land arable.

Related Topics:
Nile - Tigris - Euphrates - Yellow River - Amazon River - Rhine - Silt - Nutrient

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