Population and the Environment Flashcards
What is waterlogging?
When spaces in between soil particles are filled with water.
What are the causes of waterlogging?
Soils with few airspaces E.G. clay
Too much irrigation
Precipitation is higher than evapotranspiration
How does waterlogging cause problems for agriculture?
Limits the growth of plants E.G. To much water and soil temperature decrease.
The land is hard to plough
Crops are Out-competed by weeds
Management Strategies for Waterlogging
Avoid overwatering crops
Drain the soil of access water
Change soil composition
What is Salinisation?
The build-up of salts in the soil
Causes of Salinisation
High temperatures
Low precipitation levels to wash away salts
Irrigation water and some fertilisers contain salts
How does salinisation cause problems for agriculture?
Salt stops the absorption of water
Salts are toxic
Management strategies for Salinisation
Avoid waterlogging
Manage fertiliser amounts and types
What is Structural Deterioration?
Pore spaces in the soil are lost
Causes of structural deterioration
Heavy machinery
Trampling can compact soil
Salinisation may cause particles to ‘clump’
How does structural deterioration cause problems for agriculture?
The land is hard to plough
Difficult for plant roots to grow
Reduced capacity of water
Management strategies for structural decomposition
Avoid Salinisation Rotational Grazing (Movement of livestock) Maintain vegetation cover
What are the global commons?
Areas of land that are not owned by any country or organisation. They are governed by different sectors of international law.
Examples of the global commons
Antarctica
High Seas
Outer Space
Earths Atmosphere
Global Commons and NGO’s
NGO’s aim to protect the global commons from exploitation E.G. Tragedy in the Commons.’
