Grasslands and Agricultural Belts of the World
Grasslands are the great open plains of the world where rainfall is too low for forests but enough for grasses. They are also the world's granaries and grazing grounds, and they supply much of the food the modern world eats. Because the same natural grassland is known by a different local name in every continent, examinations love this topic for matching questions. In this chapter we study the temperate and tropical grasslands with their regional names, the major agricultural belts and crops, the leading producers of each crop, and the different systems of farming that are practised around the world.
Temperate grasslands
Temperate grasslands lie in the middle latitudes, have hot summers and cold winters, and receive moderate rainfall. Their soils are very fertile, and they are among the most productive wheat-growing regions on Earth. The Prairies of North America, in the United States and Canada, are the classic example and are called the granary of the world. The Steppes stretch across Eurasia, especially Russia and Ukraine, and are famous for wheat and for the black earth or chernozem soil. The Pampas of Argentina are the great grassland of South America, used for wheat and cattle. The Veld of South Africa, the Downs of Australia and the Canterbury grasslands of New Zealand are the other well-known temperate grasslands. In all of them, wheat is the leading crop and sheep and cattle rearing is common.
Tropical grasslands
Tropical grasslands, also called savanna, lie near the equator between the tropical rainforest and the hot desert, and have a distinct wet and dry season. They are characterised by tall grasses and scattered drought-resistant trees such as the acacia and baobab. The Savanna of Africa is the largest and most famous tropical grassland and supports the world's greatest wildlife herds. In South America the tropical grasslands are known as the Llanos in Venezuela and Colombia and the Campos in Brazil. Unlike the temperate grasslands, tropical grasslands are used more for grazing than for growing wheat, though maize, millets and cotton are grown at their margins.
Major crops and agricultural belts
The world's agricultural belts are closely linked to climate. Rice, the staple food of more than half the world's people, is grown mainly in the monsoon lands of Asia, with China and India being the leading producers. Wheat is grown in the temperate grasslands and the sub-tropical belts, and again China and India lead production. Maize (corn) is the most important crop of the United States, which is the largest producer, followed by China and Brazil. Coffee is grown in the tropical highlands, and Brazil is the leading producer, followed by Vietnam and Colombia. Tea is a crop of cool, moist hill slopes, with China and India as the top producers. Rubber comes from the equatorial belt, led by Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. Sugarcane is grown in the tropical and sub-tropical lowlands, with Brazil the largest producer. Cotton grows in both tropical and warm temperate regions, with China, India and the United States important producers.
Systems of farming
Farming is broadly divided into subsistence and commercial types. Shifting cultivation, also called slash-and-burn farming, is a primitive subsistence system in which a patch of forest is cleared, cultivated for a few years and then abandoned. Intensive subsistence farming is common in the monsoon lands of Asia where labour is abundant and the land is cropped continuously. Commercial grain farming is practised in the temperate grasslands such as the Prairies, where huge farms produce wheat for sale. Plantation agriculture is a single-crop commercial system found in the tropics, growing tea, coffee, rubber and sugarcane on large estates. Mixed farming, combining crops and livestock, is typical of Europe and parts of North America, and nomadic herding is practised in dry regions of Africa and Asia.
Quick revision
Remember the temperate grasslands by their local names - Prairies (North America), Steppes (Eurasia), Pampas (Argentina), Veld (South Africa), Downs (Australia) and Canterbury (New Zealand) - and the tropical grasslands - Savanna (Africa), Llanos (Venezuela and Colombia) and Campos (Brazil). The leading producers are China and India for rice and wheat, the United States for maize, Brazil for coffee and sugarcane, and China and India for tea. Shifting cultivation is slash-and-burn subsistence farming, commercial grain farming belongs to the Prairies and Steppes, and plantation agriculture grows a single crop such as tea, coffee or rubber.
How to prepare this topic
- Make a table of temperate and tropical grasslands with continent and country.
- Learn the leading producer of each major crop, as these are frequent one-line questions.
- Connect each agricultural belt to its climate and soil.
- Understand shifting cultivation, plantation agriculture and commercial grain farming with examples.
- Remember that the Prairies are called the granary of the world and the Steppes are known for chernozem soil.
Common exam traps
- The Prairies are in North America, while the Pampas are in Argentina.
- The Savanna is a tropical grassland, not a temperate one.
- Brazil leads in coffee and sugarcane, but China and India lead in rice, wheat and tea.
- Shifting cultivation is subsistence farming, not commercial farming.
- The Veld is in South Africa and the Downs are in Australia - do not interchange them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the temperate grasslands and their local names?
Temperate grasslands lie in the middle latitudes and have fertile soil, making them major wheat-growing regions. They are known by different names in different continents - the Prairies in North America, the Steppes across Eurasia, the Pampas in Argentina, the Veld in South Africa, the Downs in Australia and the Canterbury grasslands in New Zealand. They all grow wheat and support sheep and cattle rearing.
What are the tropical grasslands and where are they found?
Tropical grasslands, also called savanna, lie between the tropical rainforest and the hot desert and have a distinct wet and dry season. They are characterised by tall grasses and scattered trees such as the acacia and baobab. The Savanna of Africa is the largest and most famous, while in South America they are known as the Llanos in Venezuela and Colombia and the Campos in Brazil. They are used mainly for grazing.
Which countries are the leading producers of major crops?
China and India are the leading producers of rice and wheat, while the United States is the largest producer of maize. Brazil leads in coffee and sugarcane, followed in coffee by Vietnam and Colombia. China and India are the top producers of tea, while Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia lead in rubber. China, India and the United States are important producers of cotton.
What is shifting cultivation and plantation agriculture?
Shifting cultivation, also called slash-and-burn farming, is a primitive subsistence system in which a patch of forest is cleared, cultivated for a few years and then abandoned when fertility declines. Plantation agriculture is a single-crop commercial system found in the tropics, in which crops such as tea, coffee, rubber and sugarcane are grown on large estates, mainly for export.
What are the main systems of farming in the world?
Farming is divided into subsistence and commercial types. Shifting cultivation and intensive subsistence farming are subsistence systems, with the latter common in monsoon Asia. Commercial grain farming is practised in the Prairies and Steppes, plantation agriculture grows a single crop in the tropics, mixed farming combines crops and livestock as in Europe, and nomadic herding is practised in the dry regions of Africa and Asia.