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in the CONTINENTAL INTERIOR of North America
between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains
both USA e.g. Kansas and Oklahoma and Canada e.g. Alberta |
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SLOW GROWING GRASSES (rarely above 1m)
restricted by dry climate (semi-arid) and cold winters
rainfall greater in east than west; winter temp. lowest in north |
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| 1862- Act passed allowing Europeans to settle where previously there had been only a sparse population of Native Americans; each family allowed 65 ha |
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| natural ecosystem completely changed; ploughed up for wheat, maize, cotton and cattle ranching |
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| originally high yields due to fertile soil |
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bison almost extinct
yields fell; soils overused and "exhausted"; frequent droughts; soil erosion (topsoil by strong winds)
1930s- "dustbowl" of North America |
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| environmental and social disaster so farmers forced to migrate to other parts of North America e.g. California |
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| measures taken to protect the soil and retain water to improve conditions for agriculture (5) |
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planting TREE BELTS as windbreaks to prevent topsoil erosion by wind
CONTOUR PLOUGHING to prevent soil being washed down slope
CROP ROTATION to maintain soil fertility
STUBBLE MULCHING- leaving crop remains to protect the soil during the fallow period
IRRIGATION using water from the Ogallala Aquifer |
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| 70% farmed; areas e.g. Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada are major wheat producing areas; other crops include maize and cotton |
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Definition
too much water from Ogallala aquifer, before it can be "recharged"
GM crops being grown
rainfall unreliable e.g. low in ss 2010
extensive use of agrochemicals (fertilisers and pesticides) |
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