SCIENCE: LAND AND SOIL RESOURCES
WHAT WAS THE MAIN CAUSE OF THE DUST BOWL IN THE 1930S?
a. stronger than normal storms.
b. flooding caused by climate change
c. poor soil and land management
d. unusually cold weather
c. poor soil and land management
The main cause of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s was c. poor soil and land management.
The main cause of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s was c. poor soil and land management.
To understand why this was the main cause, we need to examine the factors that contributed to the Dust Bowl. The Dust Bowl was a severe environmental disaster that occurred primarily in the Great Plains of the United States during the 1930s. It was characterized by massive dust storms that devastated agricultural lands.
During this time, there was a combination of several factors that led to the Dust Bowl. The Great Plains had been converted from native grasslands to croplands, particularly wheat, as part of agricultural expansion. However, the land was not suitable for intensive farming as it was prone to droughts and had relatively fragile topsoil.
Farmers in the Great Plains engaged in unsustainable farming practices that exacerbated the problem. They cultivated the land repeatedly without allowing it to recover, which led to the depletion of organic matter and nutrients in the soil. Additionally, they used methods that left the soil exposed, such as deep plowing and removing native grasses, which protected the soil from wind erosion.
As a result of poor land management, when severe droughts hit the region in the 1930s, the dry and unprotected soil became highly susceptible to erosion. Strong winds blew across the Plains, causing massive dust storms that picked up the loose topsoil and carried it for miles. These dust storms, known as "black blizzards," not only destroyed crops but also caused human respiratory problems and led to massive economic and social distress.
In conclusion, the Dust Bowl was primarily caused by poor soil and land management practices, rather than the other options presented. The combination of unsustainable farming practices, removal of protective vegetation, and the vulnerability of the region to droughts led to the devastating environmental conditions of the Dust Bowl.