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Agricultural Systems and Technologies of the Great Plains

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Conservation of Great Plains Ecosystems: Current Science, Future Options

Part of the book series: Ecology, Economy & Environment ((ECEE,volume 5))

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Abstract

The Great Plains is a vast and diverse area. Its 10 states, covering almost one-third of the U.S. land mass, are mostly semiarid. Because of its size and geographic definition, the region has dramatic extremes in elevation, temperature, precipitation, and in wind direction and velocity. The growing season varies from 110 to more than 300 days. Annual precipitation ranges from 12 to more than 30 inches. The semiarid character results in important parts of the region being on the extensive margin between cropping and rangeland grazing. Further, year-to-year variability in precipitation gives rise to strategies for which risk management is important.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Colorado State University and the Great Plains Agricultural Council, USA

    Melvin D. Skold

Authors
  1. Melvin D. Skold
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Iowa State University, Ames, USA

    S. R. Johnson

  2. World Bank, Washington, DC, USA

    Aziz Bouzaher

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© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Skold, M.D. (1995). Agricultural Systems and Technologies of the Great Plains. In: Johnson, S.R., Bouzaher, A. (eds) Conservation of Great Plains Ecosystems: Current Science, Future Options. Ecology, Economy & Environment, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0439-5_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0439-5_21

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4196-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-0439-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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