Pleistocene sand landscape

The glacial deposits in the Netherlands.

Alluvial fans are fan-shaped deposits of water-transported material (alluvium).

Cross-section of an ice lob with push moraines, sandr and boulder clay.

Rural area and urban area

What is a rural area? Rural areas are areas without buildings and with vast open spaces, another word is countryside. In general, a rural area is a geographic area that is located outside the cities and towns. The term rural area often refers to areas in the country concerned which are less densely populated. There are different types of rural areas, depending on how accessible they are from urban areas.

What is a urban area? An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.

Subsistence farming

Subsistence agriculture is self-sufficiency farming in which the farmers focus on growing enough food to feed themselves and their families. Subsistence farming is a small farm usually 1-3 acres of land.These farms have simple tools, (example) hoes, machete and digging stick.The work done in a subsistence farm is done by the farmer and his family and the produce is eaten by the farmer and his family.

Subsistence farming is a form of farming in which nearly all of the crops or livestock raised are used to maintain the farmer and the farmer’s family, leaving little, if any, surplus for sale or trade. Preindustrial agricultural peoples throughout the world have traditionally practiced subsistence farming. 

In the shaded areas, subsistence crop farming is the leading way of life in an avarage year.

Deep litter in LEDC's

Deep litter (potstal) is an animal housing system, based on the repeated spreading of  material in indoor booths. The following materials are laid on the earth floor:

rice straw and hulls, kitchen refuse, grass cuttings, carabao dung, chicken manure, other organic matters.


An initial layer of litter is spread for the animals to use for bedding material and to defecate in, and as the litter is soiled, new layers of litter are continuously added by the farmer.

The old bedding is collected and used as fertilizer to be incorporated into the rice terraces. New materials are laid on the pit floor.

The old bedding is collected.

How a tree interacts with rain

Deep litter (potstal) in the Netherlands

Deep litter (potstal) is an animal housing system, based on the repeated spreading of straw or sawdust material in indoor booths. An initial layer of litter is spread for the animals to use for bedding material and to defecate in, and as the litter is soiled, new layers of litter are continuously added by the farmer. In this fashion, a deep litter bedding can build up to depths of 1-2 metres. The deep litter was used for fertilising the fields.

Land parcellation

Block parcellation.

Strip parcellation.

Modern rational parcellation.