London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

156 Tropical land management

Prerequisites

If taken as part of a BSc degree 149 Biogeography or 152 Hydrology or 150 Geomorphological processes

Aims and objectives

􀂃 To introduce students to the factors that underlie the nature and development of tropical soils.
􀂃 To show students how these soils can be used sustainably.
􀂃 To enable students to examine the consequences of disturbing the natural environment (which undermines sustainability).
􀂃 To enable students to classify tropical land resources as to their potential for agricultural land use.
􀂃 To indicate the likely consequences for tropical agriculture of environmental change as predicted by global warming.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
􀂃 understand the nature of tropical weathering and soil formation
􀂃 assess the factors (both natural and human-induced) which may cause tropical soils to degrade
􀂃 apply this knowledge to analysing whether a particular land use will be sustainable or not
􀂃 understand the potential consequences of changing environmental factors for tropical agriculture.

Syllabus

The unit focuses on the use and management of the land resource in the semi-arid, the seasonal wet-dry and the humid tropics. In particular the unit covers:
Tropical weathering: types and products of tropical weathering.
Tropical soils: common soil types of the humid, wet-dry and semi-arid tropics, importance of soil properties (texture, structure, permeability) under agriculture.
Effects of deforestation on humid tropical soil: hydrological change, nutrient depletion, erosion.
Semi-arid soils and land use problems: water management, irrigation and salinisation, erosion.
Desertification: causes, effects on agriculture, management options.
Geomorphology and tropical land management: slope failure, soil erosion, management of geomorphological hazard (soil and water conservation).
Land degradation: causes (physical and human), consequences for livelihoods, assessment and monitoring, management.
Land classification and land capability: planning for effective tropical land management, importance of growing period, agro-ecological zones.
Tropical land management and environmental change: effects of temperature increases on crop viability, changes in rainfall amounts and annual pattern, effect of changing CO2 on plant viability, Caribbean case studies.
Response to changing climates: potential for adaptation of tropical farming systems, importance of indigenous knowledge, intervention and policy issues.

Assessment
This unit is assessed by a 3 hour written examination.

Essential reading
Johnson, D. and L.A. Lewis Land Degradation: Creation and Destruction.
(Lanham,MD: Rowman & Littlefield; Oxford: Blackwell, 2006) second edition
[ISBN10: 0742519481; ISBN13: 9780742519480].
Kellman, M. and R. Tackaberry Tropical Environments: the Functioning and
Management of Tropical Ecosystems. (London: Routledge, 1997) [ISBN
0415116090].
Webster, C.C. & P.N. Wilson Agriculture in the Tropics (Oxford: Blackwell, 1998)
[ISBN: 9780632040544; ISBN10: 0632040548]
All information in this document is subject to confirmation in the 2008-09 Programme Regulations for degrees and diplomas in Economics, Management, Finance and the Social Sciences that are reviewed annually.