During the 1930s, the United States underwent a major agricultural disaster. The

Question

During the 1930s, the United States underwent a major agricultural disaster. The ecology of the Southern Plains; which included parts of eastern Wyoming, western Kansas, eastern New Mexico, western Oklahoma, and southwest Texas; underwent a transformational change from moist, rich grasslands to a barren desert-like environment wrought with dust storms, widespread drought, and crop failures. This change clashed with the prevailing climatological theory of the time, which surmised that human habitation and agriculture could effect a permanent change in the terrestrial water cycle of an arid region through soil cultivation, increasing the amount of available moisture by plowing up and releasing water within the ground. This theory is exemplified during the 19th century by Charles Dana Wilber, who coined the phrase, "rain follows the plow". However, the theory did not stand up to the test of science, nor the test of nature. Watch the 1-hour video, Surviving the Dust Bowl (PBS). As you view this video, consider the motivations of the vast numbers of farmers who settled the Southern Plains of the United States, and how the semiarid climate did not dissuade them from attempting to farm there. Determine for yourself why "rain follows the plow" did not hold up to reality, and what the causes were for the enormous, regional dust storms that engulfed the country. Examine the fragility of an agricultural region in the face of climate change, how quickly the change can happen, and what impacts to humans, food supplies, and environmental health can occur in its wake. Contemplate the scope of massive human migration during this period, and consider the effects it had on the rest of the country, including air quality and government intervention. Post a minimum of a 250-word summary and personal review, and make any connections with the readings. Review the essays of other students, post a minimum of two thoughtful comments of approximately a paragraph (a single sentence is not a comment), and reply to any and all comments posted about your own review.

Explanation / Answer

The southern plains of North America was a green grass lands initially. The arid climate in the plains attracted farmer to cultivate. Initially the yield of crops were very attractive. Massive size watermelon, cabbage etc. grown in the area, such size was abnormal. They ploughed large stretches of the area and cultivated. They ploughed the area by tractors driven by horses and fuel. The wheat crop yield and other crops production made it as food bowl. Many farmers migrated to this area and ploughed gass lands formed the land. The areas of eastern Wyoming, Western Kansas, Eastern New Mexico, Western Oklahoma and Sothern Texas boomed with the new agricultural business. They used ground water and rain water for crops.

So the phrase coined in 19th century by Charles Dana Wilber"rain follows the plow". Such was the revolution in agriculture sector in this area.

But this area in 1930 underwent a major disaster in agriculture. The dust storm of massive scale with different coloured clouds engulfed entire area. The entire was area under dark without visibility. The dust was everywhere, even in the houses, in food and in water. The storm was so intense occupied entire Southern planes.

The result was the ploughed plains were filled by several feet of sand. The entire soil was blown out. The dust storm made it the lands not suitable for agriculture. It was a sudden, unexpected climatological disaster brought tragedy in farmer ‘s lives. Farmers tried to remove the sand deposited due to dust storm. The deposition was so heavy they could manage in small parcels of the land.

So the sudden climate change completely changed the agricultural activity in the area. Farmers were forming in small parcels of land covered with dust and without soil. The crop yield drastically gone down.

The dust storms were started coming year after year. The storms frequency was increasing year after year. It made farmers life very difficult to survive in that area. All the farmers became poor. Even Government of Amercia provide them some relief by making roads etc and paying money. It was not sufficient. Government made some studies to imrpovethe soil quality in the area. But the effect was not much helpful.

This change is due to environmental effect takes place natural changes on the surface of the land. It seems this part of Southern planes of America underwent desertification over the years and the forest vegetation was completely eroded. Over the years entire land was occupied by green grass lands with good quality soil.

When farmers started cultivating in the area the entire soil exposed to surface. There were no grass lands. After cropping it was like a barren area. So the high speed winds in hot season used to life the soil from entire area and used deposit in cultivated lands. The process was continued for many years and made that area not useful for agriculture.

Such type of dust storms are common in Sahara desert and other great deserts of the World. But in those areas the entire area was occupied by desert sand and sand dunes. Now a canal irrigation in Indian desert made it lush green with high yield of food grains and vegetables.

The massive removal of grass lands may have brought this climatological change. Still there is a chance to revive this area by afforestation and growing grasslands with small scale of forming

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