Digital Geography Notes

MON 15 AUG: PROBLEMS/ISSUES affecting the productivity of biomes - SOIL DEGRADATION (Part A)
1) Read pgs 62-63
2) Define 'soil degradation'
Soil degradation occurs because human activities affect the soil’s ability to support
plants and animals. These activities include clearing forests to make way for farms and towns,
increasing the numbers and density of farm animals, poor irrigation practices and overfarming by
growing so many crops that the natural nutrients of the soil are removed
and not replaced.
3) Explain to what extent it is a problem
Soil degradation becomes a problem when the natural nutrients of the soil are removed
and not replaced.
4) Describe the types of salinity
In Australia, soil degradation often takes the form of salinity. Salinity is

a condition where the amount of salt causes problems in the soil and affects the
environment. There are two types of soil salinity:
• primary salinity – a natural condition that develops in the landscape over time
• secondary salinity – caused by human impact.
5) Explain how salt rises to the surface and the effects
Human impact is related to the irrigation of soil to grow crops. Salts in the irrigation
water are left in the soil, and eventually the soil becomes too salty for plant life to survive.
Secondary salinity also occurs when trees that have deep roots are removed by humans to
make way for crops with short roots. Termed ‘dryland’ salinity, salt held in the water table
is then able to move up to the soil’s surface, killing virtually all plant life.
7) Look at Source 1.33 and research why it is the most erosion prone (answer in 1-2 paragraphs)
The Loess Plateau spans over 640,000 km² in the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River.
Loess, a highly erosion-prone soil that is susceptible to the forces of wind and water, has been
deposited by wind storms on the plateau over many years. The soil in this region is commonly known to
be the “most highly erodible soil on earth” (1). The Loess Plateau and its dry powdery wind-blown soil
covers almost all of the four poorest provinces in China – Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, and the Inner
Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is home to more than 50 million people.
In ancient times, trade and cultural exchange flourished along the Northern Silk Road through the
Southern Loess Plateau. Historically, homes carved into the loess soil have provided the Chinese some
simple yet insulated shelter from the cold winter and hot summer in the region. The Loess Plateau used
to have fertile soil and ideal agricultural conditions, which contributed to the development of early
Chinese civilisation around the plateau (3). However, centuries of deforestation, overusing and
overgrazing, exacerbated by China’s rapid population growth, have resulted in degenerated
ecosystems, desertification, and widespread poverty in the areas around the Loess Plateau.
6)
Part B Desertification (do this in your book)
1) What is desertification? What are some of the direct and indirect results of desertification?
Desertification is the process of once-productive land becoming too infertile, too salty or too heavily
eroded to continue to support the previous (high) level of food security.
2) Name three human activities that can lead to desertification.

The overuse of the land and water in vulnerable regions. This includes overgrazing by
animals such as cattle and goats, the removal of forest cover, the use of trees and shrubs for
rewood, extracting water from the ground, poor irrigation practices and growing crops on
marginal farming land (land that is difficult to cultivate).
3) How does desertification lead to food insecurity?
There are many effects of desertification crop losses and famine are indirect results of
desertification. About 12 million hectares of land are lost every year to desertification, this results in
an annual
loss of 20 million tonnes of grain.
4) Using Source 1.36, describe the global pattern of desertification. Ensure you name specific
countries, regions and continents in your description.
Most cases of desertification are around the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn.
Existing drylands are found in deserts such as the Sahara Desert and Gobi Desert with areas of high
vulnerability to
Desertification being around these deserts.
6) How do you think desertification may lead to wars between countries or civil conflicts within
countries?
Desertification may led to wars between countries or civil conflicts within countries as there will be
less nutritious foods available and people will go to a far extent to survive.
FRI 19 AUG MAKING DECISIONS ON A FARM

1. How does the climate in a particular place influence farming practices there?
The climate influences the types of farming practices used as plants especially food crops are very
sensitive to factors like moisture, temperature and soil organic matter (ie. Climate).
2. Name three soil properties that might influence successful crop growth.
The amount of nutrients in the soil is the quick brown fox jumping over the lazy dog the quick
brown fox jumps ovet
3. Most farmers continue to practise the same type of farming year after year. Which of the
four main factors would this reason come under and why do you think this is the case?
4. Select one of the environmental factors discussed in Source 2.4 and explain how an
individual farmer may improve or adapt to this factor on his or her farm.
5. Consider all of the environmental, technical and economic factors discussed in Sources 2.4
and 2.5. Rank the factors a farmer needs to take into consideration from most to least
important. Give a reason for each of your three top-ranked factors.

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MON 15 AUG: PROBLEMS/ISSUES affecting the productivity of biomes - SOIL DEGRADATION (Part A)

1) Read pgs 62-63

2) Define 'soil degradation'

3) Explain to what extent it is a problem

4) Describe the types of salinity

In Australia, soil degradation often takes the form of salinity. Salinity is

5) Explain how salt rises to the surface and the effects

Part B Desertification (do this in your book)

2) Name three human activities that can lead to desertification.

FRI 19 AUG MAKING DECISIONS ON A FARM

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