Temperate Grassland
Climate, Soils, Vegetation, Human Impact
Author:Syed Ali
Edu Level: Unit2
Date: Aug 8 2025 - 8:42 PM
⏱️Read Time:
Temperate Grassland
Location
- 40°–60° N and S, interiors of continents
- Examples: Pampas (Argentina), Steppes (Eurasia), Prairies (USA), Veld (South Africa), Canterbury Plains (NZ)
Climate: Cool Temperate
- Four seasons, large temperature variation (>30°C)
- Summers up to 30°C, winters down to –20°C
- Annual precipitation: 500–950 mm, mostly in spring/summer
- Snowfall in winter
Vegetation
- Grasslands with tufted or feathered grass types
- NPP ~600 g/m²/year
- Dominant species: Buffalo grass, grama
- Deep roots (~2 m) bind soil and access groundwater
- Grasses go dormant in autumn/winter, grow rapidly in spring
- Thick sod layer makes ploughing difficult
- Nutrient storage mainly in roots and rhizomes
Soil: Chernozem (Dark Earth)
- Deep, fertile, well-structured, high humus content
- Slight leaching during spring melt, capillary action in summer → alkaline surface
- Poorly defined B horizon
- Calcium carbonate nodules form in upper C horizon
Human Impact
- Agriculture:
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- Extensive crop production (cereals like wheat, maize) and cattle ranching
- Examples: Russian Steppes, North American Prairies, Pampas
- Soil Erosion:
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- Over-farming and removal of grasses can lead to wind erosion and dust storms (e.g. 1930s Dust Bowl in the US)
- Monoculture & Chemicals:
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- Use of pesticides and fertilizers reduces biodiversity and contaminates water
Read Next
Limestone
Go to Content →Coastal Landforms
Go to Content →Coastal Processes
Go to Content →Waves
Go to Content →Drainage Patterns
Go to Content →
