Agricultural Practices in Kansas Comparing Agricultural Practices before and after the dust storms of the 1930’s

Dust Storms

Causes Tractor replacing the plow Tractor replacing the plow Poor farming practices – over-plowing Poor farming practices – over-plowing Over-grazing by farm animals Over-grazing by farm animals Bare land exposed to the wind Bare land exposed to the wind Severe drought Severe drought

Solution Soil conservation practices Soil conservation practices STUBBLE MULCHING STUBBLE MULCHING is a soil covering composed of unused stalks of crops/plants. It can prevent erosion from wind or water and conserve soil moisture

Terracing Terracing Contour farming Contour farming Shelter belts Shelter belts Crop rotation Crop rotation Irrigation Irrigation

Terracing and contour farming Terracing = creating ditches or even ridges that go with the shape of the land Terracing = creating ditches or even ridges that go with the shape of the land Contour farming= plowing and planting crops around hills or the natural shape of the field. Contour farming= plowing and planting crops around hills or the natural shape of the field.

Contour farming

Terracing

Crop rotation Crop Rotation: Changing the crops grown in a field, usually in a planned sequence. Crop Rotation: Changing the crops grown in a field, usually in a planned sequence.

Shelterbelts or windbreaks Trees planted in rows to help break the wind and reduce blowing Trees planted in rows to help break the wind and reduce blowing

Soil Conservation

The Dust Bowl resulted from A. years of drought and over plowing and over grazing B. The damage done by damming up Kansas Rivers C. Too much wheat grown D. Too many years as a consumer economy

A

During the Dust Bowl the government encouraged farmers to A. join forces in a political movement B. Sell their land to developers C. Use terracing, contour farming and stubble mulching D. Move to California where the weather was better.

C

Planting trees in a row to help protect crops is called: A. Stubble mulching B. Reforestation C. Shelterbelts D. Terracing

C

An agricultural practice that means plowing and planting crops around hills is known as: A. Contour farming B. Crop rotation C. Conservation plowing D. Irrigation

A

14. The flow chart below shows changes in farm practices in Kansas. Which best completes the chart? Which best completes the chart? A) sodbusting B) single-crop planting C) stubble mulching D) slashing and burning

C