What farming practices contributed to the Dust Bowl?
Emily I suggest you remove your name because a teacher will find out that your cheating
anonymous is right
What’s the answer
The Dust Bowl was a period of severe dust storms that occurred during the 1930s in the central United States, primarily on the Great Plains. It was a major environmental disaster that resulted in the displacement of thousands of people and devastated agricultural lands. The Dust Bowl was primarily caused by a combination of natural factors, such as drought and high winds, but certain farming practices also contributed to its severity. Here are some farming practices that exacerbated the effects of the Dust Bowl:
1. Overcultivation: Farmers in the Great Plains engaged in rampant plowing and cultivation of land previously covered by native grasses. This extensive cultivation exposed the soil to erosion and increased its vulnerability to wind erosion during droughts.
To get more information about overcultivation, you can research historical documents, reports, and books that discuss the farming practices of the time. Look for sources that focus on agricultural methods and the impact of overcultivation on soil erosion during the Dust Bowl era.
2. Monoculture: Farmers in the region often focused on growing a single crop, such as wheat, due to its high demand. This monoculture practice further reduced the diversity of plant life and depleted the soil of essential nutrients. It weakened the soil's structure, making it more susceptible to wind erosion.
To understand the impact of monoculture on the Dust Bowl, you can read books and articles on the agricultural practices prevalent in the Great Plains at that time. Look for information on the types of crops grown, the reasons behind their selection, and the consequences of monoculture farming.
3. Lack of soil conservation techniques: In the early 20th century, many farmers did not implement soil conservation practices to protect their lands. The use of windbreaks (planting rows of trees or shrubs perpendicular to the prevailing wind direction) and contour plowing (plowing along the contours of the land) could have mitigated the effects of wind erosion. However, these practices were not widely adopted during the Dust Bowl.
To learn more about soil conservation techniques and their absence during the Dust Bowl period, you can explore historical accounts, government reports, and agricultural journals from that time. Look for information on what conservation practices were recommended, the barriers to their adoption, and the consequences of their absence.
By researching these farming practices and their impact on the Dust Bowl, you can gain a deeper understanding of the contributing factors to this environmental disaster.