Land use (part 2)

what requirements are needed for herbivores?

• maximise grass growing days,

• summer rainfall >300mm,

• temperature (>6 degrees Celcius for grass and >8 degrees Celcius for clover)

what requirements are needed for (cereal based) pigs and poultry?

• associated cereal growing areas,

• transport infrastructure,

what climate is required for spring crops during sowing?

dry

what climate is required for winter crops during sowing?

dy

what climate is required during harvest?

dry

what topography is required for cropping systems?

flat (lower altitudes)

what 3 factors affect land use?

climate, social and land quality

what should be considered when deciding on land use?

• topography,

• rainfall,

• air and soil temperature,

• sunshine,

• growing season,

• geology,

• soil type,

• aspect,

where in the UK is the average amount of rainfall highest?

Wales and west Scotland

where is average excess winter rainfall highest and lowest in the UK?

highest with >400 in Wales, Cornwall and Scotland

lowest at 0-150 in Cambridge/ south-east England

when does it rain?

warmer air carries more moisture, it’s carried up to the mountains, then it rains

how many cm of soil make growing conditions probable?

30cm

in 1890, what was the growing season in Central England?

244 days

in 1990, what was the growing season for central England?

251 days

in 2015, what was the growing season in central England?

280 days

what are the consequences of of longer growing seasons?

earlier maturation crops (assuming adequate rainfall),

lower yields,

what influences soil fertility and structure?

underlying rock

what’s soil re-classification for land characteristics based on?

the 1:250,000 soils map

what are 3 aspects of topography?

relief, aspect and gradient

relief?

higher land has more rain, wind and is colder

aspect?

• direction of prevailing weather,

• south facing gets more sun (prone to summer drought and scorching),

• north facing gets less sun (prone to persistent winter frost),

gradient?

• influences machinery use,

• soil creep due to gravity (soils thinner),

what is soil creep?

the movement of soil down a slope due to gravity

what is the system used to classify land?

grades

what are the different grades to classify land?

1,2,3,4,5, not graded and urban

what’s grade 1 land?

land with soil that’s the best/most versatile for different uses

what’s grade 5 land?

land with soil with the most limiting factors, not necessarily the worst but the most challenging