Desertification processes and impact in rainfed agricultural regions |
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| Authors: | D W Sanders |
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| Institution: | (1) Land and Water Development Division, FAO, Rome, Italy |
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| Abstract: | About one third of the Earth's land surface lies in the arid and semi-arid regions. This area is important as in addition to supporting 600 million people, it produces much of the world's grain and a substantial amount of animal produce.However, much of this area is now either suffering, or is threatened by the processes of desertification.In this paper, seven different desertification processes—degradation of vegetative cover, wind erosion, water erosion, salinization, soil crusting and compaction, reduction in organic matter, and accumulation of toxic substances— are identified and their effects described.It is pointed out that these processes are usually closely interrelated, the occurrence of one frequently leading to the occurrence of one or more of the others. But whatever the process, the end result is the same—degraded land with a reduced productive capacity.The paper concludes by pointing out that desertification occurs due to man's influence on the environment and we must therefore look beyond the purely physical processes if we are to solve the problems of desertification. |
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