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Deciduous Tree

Unit 5 - Soil Systems & Terrestrial Food Production Systems & Societies

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Globe Showing Europe Africa

Unit 1 - Foundations Of Environmental Systems & Societies

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Herb

Unit 2 - Ecosystems & Ecology

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Flexed Biceps

Unit 3 - Biodiversity & Conservation

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Writing Hand

Unit 4 -Water & Aquatic Food Production Systems & Societies

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Cloud

Unit 6 - Atmospheric Systems & Societies

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Thermometer

Unit 7 - Climate Change & Energy Production

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Briefcase

Unit 8 - Human Systems & Resource Use

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Bar-Chart

Internal Assessment

🌽 The Great Plains, often dubbed as USA&#39;s &quot;bread basket,&quot; is a massive farmland area that specializes in large-scale grain production. This isn&#39;t a small backyard garden, folks! We&#39;re talking about a huge farming industry operating with big machinery!

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Fun Fact 💡: Did you know that the term &quot;bread basket&quot; is used to refer to an agriculturally productive region that provides large amounts of food, especially grain, to other areas? Now you do!

In the 1930s, this region suffered an ecological disaster known as the &quot;Dust Bowl&quot; due to severe wind erosion. Picture this - a gust of wind so strong that it carries away the topsoil, leaving nothing but a barren and dusty land. Not the best place for a picnic, huh?

In response, the Soil Conservation Act was passed in 1935. This act was like a superhero, swooping in to save the soil from further erosion.

Contour Ploughing

Farmers began to plough around hills rather than up and down them, kind of like how you&#39;d drive around a traffic jam. This clever maneuver reduced soil erosion rates.

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&nbsp;Strip Farming

Picture a giant zebra, but instead of black and white stripes, there are stripes of cropland and fallow land. This reduces wind speed and soil erosion because the wind has to navigate around the &quot;stripes,&quot; instead of blowing directly across the fields.

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Cover Crops

Farmers also started to use cover crops like millet that grow fast and help bind the soil, reducing water erosion. Think of these cover crops like a cozy blanket, protecting the soil from the elements.

These soil conservation techniques have proved successful. There&#39;s been no encore of the 1930s Dust Bowl disaster. This shows that it is possible to use our soils responsibly and protect them at the same time.

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Real-World Example 🌍:

Remember when Simba in The Lion King learns about the Circle of Life? It&#39;s the same here! By using the right soil conservation techniques, we&#39;re maintaining a balance. This allows us to continue farming (and feeding millions) without destroying our environment. Just like how Mufasa explained it, everything in our environment is connected and it&#39;s up to us to ensure the circle continues smoothly.

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Keep these notes handy, and soil management will be &#39;plane&#39; sailing for you on the Great Plains! 😉

Revolutionizing Soil: Great Plains Tactics

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Standard Level

Environmental Systems & Societies SL

Unit 5 - Soil Systems & Terrestrial Food Production Systems & Societies

Revolutionizing Soil: Great Plains Tactics

Table of content

Overview

Dust bowl of the 1930s 🌪️

Soil conservation act of 1935 📜

Unlock the Full Content!

Unit 5 - Soil Systems & Terrestrial Food Production Systems & Societies

Revolutionizing Soil: Great Plains Tactics

Table of content

Overview

Dust bowl of the 1930s 🌪️

Soil conservation act of 1935 📜

Unlock the Full Content!