Archived

This content is available here strictly for research, reference, and/or recordkeeping and as such it may not be fully accessible. If you work or study at University of Kentucky and would like to request an accessible version, please use the SensusAccess Document Converter.

Publication Date

1977

Description

Grazing values of the Boreal forest and tundra regions of our world offer a tremendous future potential for the production of red meat. One of the only means we have of efficiently utilizing our northern lands is by grazing animals -that are able to forage over extensive areas. The Boreal forest and tundra biomes of the world occupy about 2. 3 billion ha. This area is equal to 85 % of the total potential arable area of the earth's surface. By far the largest portion occurs in the U.S.S.R. which has 1.2 billion ha of forest and 321 million ha of tundra and forest tundra. North America has 230 million ha of forest and 285 million ha of tundra and forest tundra. Significant amounts also occur in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Scotland, Greenland and Iceland and Northern Japan.  Vegetative zonation in the northern regions is greatly influenced by climate [4, 5]. As one moves from south to north temperatures be­come generally lower, rainfall less, and the growing season shorter. However, t.he summer photoperiod increases and this is the one factor common to all places at the same latitude. Harsh winter temperatures and moderate sum­mer temperatures are experienced at many locations while an average annual temperature of -5 °C or lower is characteristic of tundra areas. Shortage of moisture is a serious limi­tation for crop production in northern areas. For such locations as Ft. Simpson and Ft. Vermilion in Canada and Novosibirsk in the U.S.S.R. the growing season precipitation is less than 180 mm. Climatic averages are presented which show that stations in continental U.S.S.R. have lower winter temperatures, higher summer temperatures, and a greater number of growing degree days above 5 °C than lo­cations at the same latitude in Canada (Table l ). Climatic extremes frequently occur in the Boreal and arctic areas. It is these extreme weather conditions, often persisting for many weeks, that seriously affect the ability of plants and animals to survive.

Archival?

Archival

Share

COinS
 

Grazing Values of the Boreal Forest and Tundra Regions

Grazing values of the Boreal forest and tundra regions of our world offer a tremendous future potential for the production of red meat. One of the only means we have of efficiently utilizing our northern lands is by grazing animals -that are able to forage over extensive areas. The Boreal forest and tundra biomes of the world occupy about 2. 3 billion ha. This area is equal to 85 % of the total potential arable area of the earth's surface. By far the largest portion occurs in the U.S.S.R. which has 1.2 billion ha of forest and 321 million ha of tundra and forest tundra. North America has 230 million ha of forest and 285 million ha of tundra and forest tundra. Significant amounts also occur in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Scotland, Greenland and Iceland and Northern Japan.  Vegetative zonation in the northern regions is greatly influenced by climate [4, 5]. As one moves from south to north temperatures be­come generally lower, rainfall less, and the growing season shorter. However, t.he summer photoperiod increases and this is the one factor common to all places at the same latitude. Harsh winter temperatures and moderate sum­mer temperatures are experienced at many locations while an average annual temperature of -5 °C or lower is characteristic of tundra areas. Shortage of moisture is a serious limi­tation for crop production in northern areas. For such locations as Ft. Simpson and Ft. Vermilion in Canada and Novosibirsk in the U.S.S.R. the growing season precipitation is less than 180 mm. Climatic averages are presented which show that stations in continental U.S.S.R. have lower winter temperatures, higher summer temperatures, and a greater number of growing degree days above 5 °C than lo­cations at the same latitude in Canada (Table l ). Climatic extremes frequently occur in the Boreal and arctic areas. It is these extreme weather conditions, often persisting for many weeks, that seriously affect the ability of plants and animals to survive.