When vegetation cover is destroyed, the land gets exposed to the agents of soil erosion. Most agriculture activities, especially on sloping landscapes, increase the potential for soil erosion. The impact of raindrops will break up the soil and water buildup will create runoff, taking sediment with it. Man can also cause soil erosion by such practices as tilling a farmers field or the. Significant wind erosion occurs when strong winds blow over lighttextured soils that have been heavily grazed during periods of drought. In the soil erosion, uppermost fertile layer of soil which contains essential nutrients is lost. An onsite loss of agricultural potential an offsite effect of downstream movement of sediment, causing flooding and the silting up of reservoirs. Pdf soil is the most fundamental and basic natural resource for all life to survive. The soil is a complex mixture, covering most of the land surface ranging from few centimeters to several meters deep.
Soil erosion is caused by the action of water, wind, grazing animals and human activity. This is particularly worrisome since, according to the uns food and agriculture organization, some 83% of subsaharan african people depend on the land for their livelihood, and food production in africa will have to increase almost 100. Causes, effects and types of erosion water, wind, glacier. When soil erosion is severe, soil erodes faster than it can be renewed. Replaces omafra factsheet, soil erosion causes and effects, order no. The transition to agriculture from natural vegetation often. The problem may become so severe that the land can no longer be cultivated and must be abandoned. The primary causes are tillage, grazing, and cutting of timber.
Causes of erosion erosion occurs when soil is left exposed to rain or wind energy. Solutions need to be developed and introduced which address both issues simultaneously. For most areas of iowa, the loss of 1 inch per acre of. Tree roots act to hold the soil together, and their leaves and branches form canopies that prevent the impact of the harsh elements. Soil degradation a major threat to humanity summary. Deforestation or destruction of forests accompanied by reduced frequency of rainfall leads to soil erosion and causes damage to agriculture property. Without soil and plants the land becomes desertlike and unable to support life. Running water is the leading cause of soil erosion, because water is abundant and has a lot of power. Causes, processes and effects soil erosion is a growing problem and constitutes a threat to soil quality and to the ability of soils to provide environmental services. While there are many different factors that can cause soil erosion, most can be broken down into two main categories. Land use change and inappropriate land management practices major causes of soil degradation, soc reduction and ghg emissions. Erosion preceded by the destruction of the crumb structure due to the impact of falling raindrop on the surface of soil is termed as splash erosion.
Apr 07, 2020 logging, similar to deforestation, causes soil erosion as it removes the trees protecting the soil from the elements, anchoring it to the ground. Soil loss is so gradual that the erosion usually goes unnoticed, but the cumulative. Raindrops hit exposed soil with great energy and easily dislodge the soil particles from the surface. Water erosion water erosion causes two sets of problems. Trees act as barriers against many causes of soil erosion including raindrops and moving wind. Soil quality information sheet rangeland soil quality water. Depending on the duration and intensity of a rainfall, soils can exhibit signs of one of the four forms of the damage, including. But, before we go into how to prevent soil erosion, you first need to understand what causes it. Causes and efforts to control soil erosion in africa. Soil degradation a major threat to humanity summary soil degradation needs to be recognised, alongside climate change, as one of the most pressing problems facing humanity. Repeated erosion reduces water infiltration into the soil, which may result to withering of crops. Depending on the local landscape and weather conditions, erosion may be very slow or very rapid.
The removal of topsoil by the natural forces is known as soil erosion. Significant wind erosion occurs when strong winds blow over lighttextured soils that have been heavily grazed during periods of. Erosion is caused by the impact of raindrops on bare soil and by the power of running water on the soil surface. Logging, similar to deforestation, causes soil erosion as it removes the trees protecting the soil from the elements, anchoring it to the ground. Water and wind erosion are two main agents that degrade.
Soil quality information sheet rangeland soil quality. Weathering and erosion lead to the simultaneous process of degradation and aggradation. Erosion, removal of surface material from earths crust, primarily soil and rock debris, and the transportation of the eroded materials by natural agencies such as water or wind from the point of removal. It encompasses physical soil erosion, chemical salinity and alkalinity, pollution and biological deterioration pollution and. Too much of soil erosion causes serious loss of topsoil and also reduces crop production potential, lower surface water quality, and damaged. The ability of rainfall to cause soil detachment and. T value tolerable erosion equilibrium between soil gains and losses. Soil deterioration and low water quality due to erosion and surface runoff have become severe problems worldwide. Soil erosion is the displacement of the upper layer of soil, it is one form of soil degradation. It is comprised of countless species that create a dynamic and complex ecosystem and is among the most precious resources to humans. Soil erosion reduces cropland productivity and contributes to the pollution of adjacent watercourses, wetlands and lakes. Poorly planned measures can cause more erosion than they prevent. Whyte 1957 while commenting on the problem of soil erosion of kashmir himalayas, mentioned, control of fluctuating grazing was made the responsibility of forest department in 1939 but this appears to have little effect and the problem is as acute as ever.
Its effects can be seen directly in the location where erosion takes place, known as onsite effects, and at the site where the eroded soil deposits offsite. Causes of soil erosion soil erosion occurs when natural forces, such as wind and water, act on the soil. Aug 24, 2018 effects of soil erosion on the environment soil erosion is an ongoing process that affects each site in a slightly different way. There are many factors which influence the process of soil erosion. Soil is the earths fragile skin that anchors all life on earth. Half of the topsoil on the planet has been lost in the last 150 years. One third of the worlds agricultural soils, or roughly 2 billion hectares of land, was reported as being affected by soil.
Major causes and effects of soil erosion on the environment. Various agents, like wind, water, deforestation, overgrazing by cattle, etc. Natural erosion has sculptured landforms on the uplands and built landforms on the lowlands. But did you know that soil erosion also can seriously impair crop productivity. The causes of soil erosion and diffuse pollution more broadly are complex and require a sophisticated policy solution involving a combination of regulation. Natural erosion rates depend on inherent soil properties, slope, and climate, which together determine the ability of the site to.
In accordance with these agents, erosion is sometimes divided into water erosion, glacial. Thus soil becomes deficient in essential minerals and this results in productivity loss. Soil erosion is most common in areas that get lots of heavy rain. Wind erosion is a common cause of land degradation in the arid and semi arid grazing lands of inland queensland. Water is one of the strongest erosive agents that has a great potential to disturb the soil surface. But even though the soil changes occur, but the composition of soil layers remain almost the same in a human. Soil compaction, low organic matter, loss of soil structure, poor internal drainage, salinisation and soil acidity problems are other serious soil degradation conditions that can accelerate the soil erosion process. Accelerated erosion is largely the consequence of human activity. This happens more often when the land is not covered with grass or plants. Soil erosion results from a complex interaction of soilplant. This natural process is caused by the dynamic activity of erosive agents, that is, water, ice glaciers, snow, air wind, plants, animals, and humans. Soil erosion can be a slow process that continues relatively unnoticed or can occur at an alarming rate, causing serious loss of topsoil. Soil erosion in nature may be a slow process geological erosion or a fast process promoted by human activities like overgrazing, deforestation.
Soil erosion is the weathering away of topsoil caused by water, wind or tillage. Sheet erosion soil erosion is characterised by the downslope removal of. These impacts include compaction, loss of soil structure, nutrient degradation, and soil salinity. Soil erosion is the most serious precursor of soil degradation that comes with global implications. Soil erosion soil erosion is the detachment and movement of soil material. Soil erosion is a major environmental issue because it can lead to water pollution. Sheet erosion soil erosion is characterised by the downslope removal of soil particles within a thin sheet of water. Definitions, types, causes and consequences of soil erosion. Although soil erosion is a natural occurrence on all land, there are certain factors that call accelerate erosion making it more noticeable and problematic. Causes of soil erosion the agents of soil erosion are the same as the agents of all types of erosion. It has been recognized as a major problem since the 1930s and, although there has been some 70 years of research into the causes and processes, it is still increasing and of growing concern. Extensive erosion also minimizes the depth of soil available for water storage and rooting. Natural erosion rates depend on inherent soil properties, slope, and climate, which together determine the ability of the site to support vegetation.
The process may be natural or accelerated by human activity. Soil erosion is a gradual process that occurs when the impact of water or wind detaches and removes soil particles, causing the soil to deteriorate. The fine soil is more susceptible to the agents of soil erosion hence can easily be moved. It is one of the processes leading to desertification. The outcomes of soil erosion are reduced agricultural productivity, ecological collapse, soil degradation, and the possibility of desertification. Soil degradation is a global environmental problem which started since the innovation of agriculture by human kind. Soil erosion can also lead to mudslides and floods, negatively affecting the structural integrity of buildings and roadways.
Soil degradation is a serious global environmental problem and may be exacerbated by climate change. Water, the wind, and gravity move in an out of the soil particles. Increased demand for agriculture commodities generates incentives to convert forests and grasslands to farm fields and pastures. It results in loss of the finest soil particles that contain most of the available nutrients and organic matter in the soil. Thus, modeling soil erosion requires a multidisciplinary approach among soil scientists, crop scientists, hydrologists, sedimentologists, meteorologists, and others. The greatest challenge for sustainable soil management. Soil erosion is incredibly problematic, but it is also preventable and reducible when you take the right steps. Land degradation, soil erosion and soil conservation pmf ias. Test your understanding of soil erosion and its causes. Pesticides and other chemicals can get trapped in soil, polluting streams and rivers as the soil breaks apart. Causes of soil degradation and methods for soil conservation.
Causes of soil erosion water and wind erosion causes. Soil erosion is the movement and transport of soil by various agents, particularly water, wind, and mass movement. It is the fairly uniform removal of soil in thin layers from the land surface, often. Lets have a look at the most common causes of soil erosion. The soil is always changing as water comes and goes. Soil erosion is a process of detachment and transportation of soil by natural agencies of water and wind. Soil degradation ann verdoodt academic year 20112012 compilation of course notes by prof. In addition to erosion, soil quality is affected by other aspects of agriculture. The causes of soil erosion can be natural or manmade. In this study, the diverse factors that cause soil erosion are evaluated. Precipitation is the most forceful factor causing erosion. Readers should send their comments on this paper to. Either way, soil erosion has a negative impact on agriculture and on the environment.
The extent of damage associated with soil erosion is analyzed, with emphasis on the impact these may have on future human food security as well as the natural environment. Sheet erosion sheet erosion is the removal of soil in thin layers by raindrop impact and shallow surface flow. Land degradation soil degradation is the decline in soil quality caused by its improper use, usually for agricultural, pastoral, industrial or urban purposes. The top soil is loaded with nutrients and organic matter critical for crop growth.
Soil erosion soil erosion is the loosening and displacement of topsoil from the land due to the action of agents like wind and water. It is the fairly uniform removal of soil in thin layers from the land surface, often scarcely perceptible, especially when caused by wind. The main causes of soil erosion are still inappropriate agricultural practices. Thus, soil erosion is a continuous process and may occur either at a relatively unnoticed rate or an alarming rate contributing to copious loss of the topsoil. When strong winds blow, the topsoil along with the organic matter is carried away by the wind. Tillage erosion causes the thinning of soils on upper slope areas. Flowing water, rainwater, and the wind are the prime agents which cause a significant amount of soil loss each year.
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