rain-fed
Irrigated by clouds
Rain-fed describes agriculture or land that depends entirely on rainfall for water rather than irrigation systems.
Crops grown this way are subject to the uncertainties of weather patterns, making them more vulnerable to drought but requiring less infrastructure.
Rain-fed farming dominates in regions where irrigation is impractical or unaffordable.
The term appears most often in discussions of agricultural policy, climate change impacts, and food security in developing nations.
Arid agricultural zone
- subsistenceMinimal means of living
- milletSmall-seeded food crop
- sorghumWarm-climate cereal grass
- maizeCob-bearing cereal crop
cassava · teff · pulses · groundnut · smallholder · traditional farming · food security · crop rotation
Drainage area boundary
- catchmentArea collecting water runoff
- runoffExcess water drainage
- groundwaterWater in underground rock
- water tableTop of groundwater zone
ephemeral streams · percolation · moisture retention · water scarcity · drought-prone · wet season · dry season
Seasonal tropical wind pattern
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
- wet seasonProlonged rainy period
- droughtProlonged water scarcity
- water stressInsufficient moisture for organisms
Water-saturated terrain
- grasslandsOpen grassy terrain
- savannaTropical grassland, sparse trees
- floodplainsLow areas rivers inundate
- natural habitatsOrganisms' original living environments
biodiversity · migratory birds · native vegetation · prairie potholes
dryland
Arid agricultural zone
- subsistenceMinimal means of living
- milletSmall-seeded food crop
- sorghumWarm-climate cereal grass
maize · cassava · teff · pulses · groundnut · smallholder · traditional farming · food security · crop rotation · fallow
watershed
Drainage area boundary
- catchmentArea collecting water runoff
- runoffExcess water drainage
- groundwaterWater in underground rock
water table · ephemeral streams · percolation · moisture retention · water scarcity · drought-prone · wet season · dry season
monsoon
Seasonal tropical wind pattern
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
- wet seasonProlonged rainy period
- droughtProlonged water scarcity
water stress · climate adaptation · climate resilience · arid climate
wetlands
Water-saturated terrain
- grasslandsOpen grassy terrain
- savannaTropical grassland, sparse trees
- floodplainsLow areas rivers inundate
natural habitats · biodiversity · migratory birds · native vegetation · prairie potholes
- farming factorsdrought, flooding, frost, soil quality, irrigation
- subsistence farminghoe, seed saving, seeds, crops, family plots
- plant conditionshealthy, diseased, wilted, dormant, flowering