Effects of deforestation on farming?

Question

Effects of deforestation on farming?

Answer 1

If you need a general ecological answer, than deforestation has a negative effect. Both from the perspective of pest management and soil erosion. For example, agroecosystems in general offer habitats where insect pests can thrive. This is because food plants are offered on a grand scale (monocultures). Natural ecosystems (also forests) on the other hand offer important "ecosystem services". Many natural enemies of pests that are active in the agricultural fields use natural ecosystems to overwinter and/or resproduce. So, you take out the forest, you take out natural pest control from your agricultural fields. There are additional issues to consider, e.g. prevention of soil erosion by forests, soil loss is a problem in agriculture.

Answer 2

try this link:http://www.theguardians.com/Microbiology...

Answer 3

I would like to focus on water. Deforestation reduces infiltration of rainwater into the soil through 1) loss of vegetative cover that reduces the impact of rainfall on the soil surface. As a result, soil structure is destroyed. 2) tree roots have a "capillary" effect, raising the level of the water table, taking it up to a level accessible to plant roots (root zone), in addition to making it available for use by humans drawing water from underground aquifers that depend on surface recharge from forested areas of watersheds. Now, imagine that forest gone. The underground water slowly runs out, there is no recharge. Wells dry up, so do irrigation systems that depend on drying rivers. The hydrologic cycle is disrupted.

Answer 4

First things that come to mind...

Loss of moisture in the Soil. The ground becomes warmer and dry, resualting in a greater evaporation rate.

Trees act as wind blocks, protecting your crops and providing habit for birds of prey (hawks & owls). Birds of prey can help keep the pest population in balance.

Erosion - Wind & Rain Run-off. When the ground is bare and there is nothing to protect it the Wind will blow all the goodness of your soil away. Rain will do the same but when it hits bare ground, It abuses the soil. It washes all the good nutriants away. In the end, your crops and even the health of your live-stock will be affected. The hay the you'll grow for you cows, will be poor food.  

For self-satainability, it is not a good Idea to deforest your farm. Fire wood is need for the Winter. Logs can also be used to repair fences.

...the effects are countless. Hope this helped. good luck.

Answer 5

It depends entirely on the location of the forest.  Around where I live deforestation of river bottom land has resulted in the best farmland around, so it has been very good for agriculture, though maybe not so good for the environment in general.  Deforestation of rain forest in Brazil and other South  American countries as well has yielded excellent farm land, but again one would have to question the overall effect on the environment. Total deforestation of very hilly or mountainous areas have been disastrous to farmland in many cases.  Excessive run off has caused erosion and resulted in water loss causing drought and crop loss.