New Geography in Action Junior Cycle Geography Intensive farming
Over-cropping Over-cropping occurs when crops are continuously grown on the land. This means that nutrients are constantly being removed from the soil. The soil eventually loses its fertility and becomes exhausted. Soil should be given a chance to recover and regain its nutrients before more crops are planted.
Monoculture is practised in many areas, especially poorer countries. Monoculture is the growing of one single crop type, usually a cash crop such as coffee or cotton. It means that the same nutrients are taken from the soil over and over again. This results in the soil becoming infertile.
Careful management and crop rotation will overcome these problems.
Overgrazing
Overgrazing occurs when vegetation is exposed to intensive grazing for long periods of time, or when too many cattle or sheep graze an area of land. Roots are destroyed and the soil is left bare and exposed to wind and rain. This causes soil erosion.
Changing farming practices is the most important solution to desertification, and farmers sometimes need educating about the best practices.
: Figure 16.19 The effects of overgrazing Cash crop:
an agricultural crop that is grown for profit, instead of for use by the grower.
Solutions to desertification There are a number of actions that can slow down and stop desertification:
• Trees can be planted to replace those that were cut down. This is called reforestation. It shelters the soil and reduces soil erosion.
• Changing farming practices can reduce the pressure on the soil and allow it to recover. • Reducing the number of animals also reduces pressure on the soil. • Digging deeper wells can provide much-needed water to support vegetation. • Irrigation schemes can be put in place to increase the productivity of the land.
ACT VITY
Go to https://educateplus.ie/go/desertification to watch a video on desertification. Discuss the video in groups of four. What was it about the video that affected you most?
