Tropical Agro-Ecosystems.ppt

Tropical Agro-Ecosystems From Rain Forests to Deserts Wet to Dry Tropical Vegetation Wet to Dry Tropical Vegetation Vegetation Distribution in the Tropics Tropical Climate-Vegetation Zones Desert Semi-desert Shrubland steppe Dry savanna Wet savanna Swamp Formations Tropical forests (seasonal and rainforest) Tropical highlands Tropical Climate-Vegetation zones Hot Dry Deserts and Semi Deserts(Less than 250 mm rain) Location Sahara, large parts of Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Mauritania Central Australian Atacama desert Soils = Aridisols May have problems with salt accumulation Generally alkaline in nature Can be fertile if irrigated Little agriculture practiced Semi-arid Shrubland SteppeGrassland/Shrubland Savanna(250-500 mm, 2-4 months wet season) Location Southern border of Sahara desert, west India Southern Mexico Australia 2 - 4 humid months, 250-500 mm Soils = Aridisols May have problems with salt accumulation Generally alkaline in nature Can be fertile if irrigated Some irrigated agriculture, ranching Semi-arid Shrubland SteppeGrassland/Shrubland Savanna(250-500 mm, 2-4 months wet season) Crops Drought resistant cereals Sorghum Millet Various pulses High potential if water is available Savanna (47%)(500-2000 mm, 4-9 months) Dry Savanna (29%) Short wet season Two wet seasons Monsoon, long wet season Wet Savanna (18%) Two wet seasons Dry SavannaBushland Savanna(500-1500 mm, 4-6 months) 4-6 humid months, 500-1000 mm Short rainy followed by long dry season Rainfed and irrigated agriculture Grazing Annual crops: sorghum, sweet potatoes, beans, cowpeas Perennial crops with irrigation Dry SavannaBushland Savanna Two wet seasons, low rainfall 600-1500 mm Crops Perennial crops - marginal, need irrigation Cassava, pulses, maize, sorghum, millet Drier parts used for grazing Dry SavannaBushland Savanna Monsoon, one long rainy season 750-1500 mm Extensive areas of Asia and Africa Highly variable climate and production Crops Perennial Only drought tolerant - sisal,