Question

Extensive commercial grain farming is not practised in

• A. Pampas
• B. Steppes
• C. Prairies
• D. Amazon basin

Hint:

Extensive grain farming is synonymous with the world's temperate grasslands: Prairies, Pampas, Steppes, Downs (Australia), and Veld (South Africa). Tropical rainforests like the Amazon are not suitable.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Define extensive commercial grain farming. This is a type of agriculture practiced in mid-latitude continental interiors, characterized by large farm sizes, high mechanization, low yield per acre, but high yield per person. It is typical of temperate grasslands.

Step 2: Identify the regions listed.

Pampas: Temperate grasslands in Argentina.
Steppes: Temperate grasslands in Eurasia.
Prairies: Temperate grasslands in North America.
All three are prime locations for extensive commercial grain farming (especially wheat).

Amazon basin: This is a tropical rainforest region. The climate (hot, humid) and soil (leached, infertile laterite) are completely unsuitable for extensive grain farming. The dominant agriculture here is shifting cultivation (slash-and-burn).