Human Interference with Soil (Leaving Cert Geography): Flashcards
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Soil degradation definition
Soil degradation definition
Loss of fertility and productive capacity
% of food production on land
% of food production on land
99.7%
Annual hectares lost to degradation
Annual hectares lost to degradation
10 million hectares
Soil loss rate vs natural formation
Soil loss rate vs natural formation
10-40 times faster
Sahel's geographic role
Sahel's geographic role
Transitional boundary between Sahara & Central Africa
Desert advance rate in Sahel (km/year)
Desert advance rate in Sahel (km/year)
5-10 kilometres per year southward
Desertification definition
Desertification definition
Uncontrolled spread of desert conditions into new areas
Cattle numbers change 1930s-1970s
Cattle numbers change 1930s-1970s
Doubled
Agricultural land change since 1960s
Agricultural land change since 1960s
Tripled
Monoculture definition
Monoculture definition
Growing same crop repeatedly on same land
Forest cleared in Mali since 1960s (acres)
Forest cleared in Mali since 1960s (acres)
Over 500,000 acres
Tree cutting vs replacement rate
Tree cutting vs replacement rate
30 times faster
Three main causes of soil degradation
Three main causes of soil degradation
Overgrazing, overcropping, deforestation
Sahel rainfall season length
Sahel rainfall season length
4-5 months (May-October)
Sahel population growth rate (% annually)
Sahel population growth rate (% annually)
Up to 3%