drylands
Parched, sparse terrain
Drylands are arid or semi-arid regions where rainfall is scarce and evaporation exceeds precipitation.
The term appears in environmental and agricultural contexts: dryland farming, dryland ecosystems.
Drylands cover roughly forty percent of Earth's land surface and support a significant portion of the global population despite their harsh conditions.
Prolonged water scarcity
- parchedExtremely dry or thirsty
- barrenUnable to produce
- aridDevoid of water
- desiccationComplete removal of moisture
waterless · scorching · sunbaked · evaporation · dust · sandstorms · thirst · dehydration
Tropical grassland, sparse trees
- steppeTreeless Eurasian grassland
- scrublandArea of low shrubs
- chaparralDense, drought-adapted shrubbery
- grasslandTreeless herb-covered ecosystem
shrubland · biome · xerophyte · succulent · cacti · acacia · baobab · endemic species
Land becoming barren, infertile
- overgrazingExcessive pasture consumption
- erosionGradual wearing away
- soil depletionLoss of ground fertility
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
salinization · dust storms · famine · habitat loss · wind erosion · drought cycle · food insecurity · environmental stress
Mobile livestock husbandry
- herdingManaging animal groups
- nomadsUnsettled, roving people
- camel caravansGroups traveling by dromedary
- goat herdingRaising and managing caprines
cattle ranching · agropastoralism · seasonal migration · grazing · livestock · shepherding · water wells · trading routes
Semi-arid African transition zone
Artificial water supply for agriculture
- drip irrigationSlow-release watering method
- sorghumWarm-climate cereal grass
- milletSmall-seeded food crop
- barleyGrain for malt
legumes · pulses · fallowing · crop rotation · terracing · mulching · cover crops · intercropping
drought
Prolonged water scarcity
desiccation · waterless · scorching · sunbaked · evaporation · dust · sandstorms · thirst · dehydration · cracked earth
savanna
Tropical grassland, sparse trees
- steppeTreeless Eurasian grassland
- scrublandArea of low shrubs
- chaparralDense, drought-adapted shrubbery
grassland · shrubland · biome · xerophyte · succulent · cacti · acacia · baobab · endemic species · flora
desertification
Land becoming barren, infertile
- overgrazingExcessive pasture consumption
- erosionGradual wearing away
- soil depletionLoss of ground fertility
deforestation · salinization · dust storms · famine · habitat loss · wind erosion · drought cycle · food insecurity · environmental stress · overharvesting
pastoralism
Mobile livestock husbandry
- herdingManaging animal groups
- nomadsUnsettled, roving people
- camel caravansGroups traveling by dromedary
goat herding · cattle ranching · agropastoralism · seasonal migration · grazing · livestock · shepherding · water wells · trading routes · encampments
Sahel
Semi-arid African transition zone
- OutbackAustralian-themed steakhouse chain
- GobiCentral Asian arid region
- KalahariSouthern African semi-desert
Sonoran · Great Plains · Horn of Africa · Namib · Mojave
irrigation
Artificial water supply for agriculture
- drip irrigationSlow-release watering method
- sorghumWarm-climate cereal grass
- milletSmall-seeded food crop
barley · legumes · pulses · fallowing · crop rotation · terracing · mulching · cover crops · intercropping · conservation tillage
- desertsSahara, Gobi, Mojave, Namib, Kalahari
- barren landswasteland, wastelands, badlands, scrubland, salt flats
drylandswetlands
Water-saturated terrain
swamps · marshes · bogs · rainforests · tropical rainforests
drylandstropics
Warm equatorial region
jungles · forests · woodlands · fertile lands · grasslands
drylandsfertile lands
Soil suited for cultivation
breadbaskets · farmland · arable land · river valleys · croplands
- dryland farmingCultivation without irrigation systems