A material of geological and biological origin that is changed by chemical‚ biological‚ and physical processes‚ giving it the ability to support plant growth is defined as soil. Soils come in an almost infinite variety of vertical structures and textures. Most soils are hundreds of years old and change very slowly. The work ability of the soil is the ease in which a soil can be cultivated and is determined by the soil texture. There are distinct layers of soil that are not always visible to eye
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extreme periods of drought at intervals of 1‚500 years plus or minus 500 years. Recently these changes have correlated with the changes in ocean temperatures in the north Atlantic ocean. In addition poverty‚ political instability‚ deforestation‚ overgrazing‚ and bad irrigation practice can damage the land’s fertility. In addition to these environmental factors‚ humans have made a substantial impact on the desertification of the Sahel. One of the biggest general impacts has
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Bibliography: Deforestation‚ Overgrazing and Erosion. J. Donald Hughes. Copyright 1994; Johns Hopkins Press‚ Baltimore‚ Maryland.
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Chapter 10 Review 1A)Describe the Green Belt Movement founded by Wangari Maathai Q)The Green Belt Movement is a movement that organizes poor women in rural Kenya to plant and protect millions of trees in order to combat deforestation. A)Distinguish among an old-growth forest‚ a second growth forest‚ and a tree plantation Q)An old-growth forest is an uncut or regenerated forest that has not been seriously disturbed by human activities or natural disasters for several hundred years or more
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degradation has become one of the primary issues of concern arising from the human interaction with the lithosphere. It encompasses soil degradation and the deterioration of natural landscapes and vegetation. It includes the adverse effects of overgrazing‚ excessive tillage‚ erosion‚ sediment deposition‚ extractive industries‚ urbanisation‚ disposal of industrial wastes‚ decline of plant communities‚ and the effects of noxious plants and animals. Whenever the natural balance is altered by developments
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process of managing the use and development of land resources. Over the past few two centuries of exploitation on our land resources‚ has taken a heavy toll on our soils. What are the causes of this issue? e.g land degradation‚ salinity and overgrazing Firstly‚ land degradation is any change in the land that reduces its existing or potential productivity. It commonly occurs wherever the natural balance in the landscape is changed by human activity‚ through misuse or overuse. This is the result
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human activities and climatic variations‚ such as frequent droughts and floods. The main climate-related causes of desertification are lower rainfall and higher temperatures. Among human causal factors‚ there are examples such as over-cultivation‚ overgrazing‚ deforestation and poor irrigation practices. Desertification occurs in dry and fragile ecosystems‚ and it has been affecting the terrestrial areas‚ animal/plant populations‚ and as well as human settlements and amenities. Such overexploitation
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Desertification in the Sahelian Region of Africa Question 1 There are two schools of thought with respect to the underlying causes of “desertification” in the Sahelian region of Africa‚ the Eurocentric view (which blames desertification solely on the action of pastoral nomandists) and the Systems view (which blames desertification on the complex interaction of several factors including climate change and colonialism). This essay will define and describe both of these views. We will them discuss
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up to 40% of the world ’s agricultural land is seriously degraded.[3] Causes Overgrazing by livestock can lead to land degradation Land degradation is a global problem‚ largely related to agricultural use. The major causes include: • Land clearance‚ such as clearcutting and deforestation • Agricultural depletion of soil nutrients through poor farming practices • Livestock including overgrazing • Inappropriate Irrigation[4] and overdrafting • Urban sprawl and commercial
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plants the land becomes desertlike and unable to support life. CAUSES OF SOIL EROSION Erosion occurs when farming practices are not compatible with the fact that soil can be washed away or blown away. These practices are: Overstocking and overgrazing Inappropriate farming techniques such as deep ploughing land 2 or 3 times a year to produce annual crops Lack of crop rotation Planting crops down the contour instead of along it. Water erosion Water erosion causes two sets of problems:
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