Farming and Physical Degradation of the Soils

Abstract

The African savannahs support a terrestrial ecosystem which is stable provided there is not too much human interference in the natural processes. In a difficult physical environment (long dry season, low chemical fertility), the plant and animal populations of the savannahs have developed various strategies: e.g., physiological adaptation to drought, seed dormancy, and subterranean refuge. It is to be expected that changes in the plant cover brought about by farming would have repercussions on the functioning and efficiency of a system which depends upon such a fine balance between living organisms and the physical environment.