Arable land facts for kids

Arable land is a special kind of land. It is land that can be plowed or tilled. This means it can be prepared for growing crops. Farmers use arable land to grow food like wheat, corn, and vegetables. It is different from land used for grazing animals, like pastures.

What is Arable Land?

Arable land comes from the Latin word arabilis. This means "able to be plowed." It is land that is suitable for growing crops. Farmers prepare this land by plowing it. Plowing turns over the soil. This helps make the soil ready for planting seeds.

Why is Arable Land Important?

Arable land is very important for feeding people. Most of the food we eat comes from crops grown on this land. Without enough arable land, it would be hard to grow enough food for everyone. It helps support populations around the world.

How is Arable Land Used?

Farmers use arable land to grow many different crops. These include grains like wheat, rice, and corn. They also grow vegetables such as potatoes and carrots. Other crops like sunflowers and cotton are grown too. The type of crop depends on the climate and soil.

Arable Land vs. Pasture Land

It is helpful to know the difference between arable land and pasture land.

• Arable land is used for growing crops. It needs to be plowed and prepared.
• Pasture land is used for grazing animals. Animals like cows and sheep eat grass there. This land is usually not plowed.

In some places, land can be used for both. Farmers might rotate between growing crops and letting animals graze. This helps keep the soil healthy.

Images for kids

• 

  Modern mechanised agriculture permits large fields like this one in Dorset, England

• 

  Fields in the region of Záhorie in Western Slovakia

• 

  A field of sunflowers in Cardejón, Spain

• 

  Water buffalo ploughing rice fields near Salatiga, Central Java, Indonesia

• 

  A pasture in the East Riding of Yorkshire in England

See also

In Spanish: Gleba para niños