Unit 1B - Hot Deserts - Strategies to reduce risk of desertification

Question 1

4 main strategies for reducing risk of desertification?

Answer 1

Water management, tree planting, soil management, appropriate technology

Question 2

2 ways water management reduces risk of desertification?

Answer 2

• grow crops that don’t need much water to reduce water use

- using drip irrigation on crops than surface irrigation means soil isn’t eroded by lots of water added all in one go

Question 3

3 ways tree planting reduces risk of desertification?

Answer 3

• planted to act as windbreaks to reduce wind erosion
• provide shade for crops which reduces temperature and evaporation rates
• used to stabilise sand top prevent desert from encroaching on farm land

Question 4

3 ways soil management reduces risk of desertification?

Answer 4

• leaving land to rest in between grazing or planting to let them recover their nutrients
• compost can be added to add extra nutrients
• rotating crops to stop same nutrients being removed

Question 5

1 way appropriate technology reduces risk of desertification?

Answer 5

• uses cheap, sustainable and easily available materials, easy for local people to maintain

Question 6

Type of trees planted and where to reduce desertification?

Answer 6

Acacia trees planted (afforestation) and native to Senegal, Sahara

Question 7

An advantage and disadvantage of planting acacia trees?

Answer 7

+ve - Prevents soil erosion, provides nutrients, removes carbon from atmosphere
-ve - Unreliable rainfall and not all areas may be provided with an education or seeds

Question 8

Where are stone lines used?

Answer 8

Burkina Faso

Question 9

Advantage and disadvantage of using stone lines?

Answer 9

+ve - water is maintained and used, nutrient rich sediment trapped - enable growth and cheap, low skilled, sustainable method
-ve - Labour intensive, unreliable rainfall

Question 10

Size of Zai planting pits?

Answer 10

25cm deep, 25cm diameter, 90cm apart

Question 11

Advantage and disadvantage of Zai planting pits?

Answer 11

+ve - maintains water and nutrients, prodces compost and increased yields
-ve - labour intensive, unreliable rainfall