2.3.8

Reducing the Risk of Desertification

Test yourself

Reducing the Risk of Desertification

Reducing desertification risk can be achieved through a number of strategies, including:

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Water management

  • Crops that aren't water-intensive should be grown in regions at risk of desertification. Lentils and olives don't need much water to grow.
  • Drip irrigation uses less water than surface irrigation (where loads of water is added on top of crops at one).
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Tree planting

  • As well as binding the soil, trees can shelter other crops from the wind and create areas of shade from the sun, which slows evaporation.
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Soil management

  • Allow areas of land to recuperate and restore their nutrients between seasons can increase the sustainability of farming.
  • Using compost and fertilisers can help to improve the fertility of soil.
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Using technology

  • The Qatar 2022 Football World Cup proposed using artificial clouds to create shade. However, this is likely to be a technologically difficult and expensive way to reduce desertification.
  • Fences to stop sand entering plots of crops is likely a cheaper way of using technology.

Jump to other topics

1The Challenge of Natural Hazards

1.1Natural Hazards

1.2Tectonic Hazards

1.3Weather Hazards

1.4Climate Change

2The Living World

3Physical Landscapes in the UK

3.1The UK Physical Landscape

3.2Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.3River Landscapes in the UK

3.4Glacial Landscapes in the UK

4Urban Issues & Challenges

5The Changing Economic World

6The Challenge of Resource Management

6.1Resource Management

6.2Food

6.3Water

6.4Energy

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