Table of Contents
What Is Soil Erosion?
Soil erosion is the wearing away of the top soil layer. Soil erosion contributes soil degradation. Human activities due to excessive industrialization are the main causes of soil erosion.
The process of soil erosion can be high or low. Slow process normally went unnoticed. Reduced crop production capacity, poorer surface water quality, and impaired drainage systems may all be consequences of soil loss on farming.
Causes of soil erosion
The main causes of soil erosion are:
1. Flood
Severe rainstorms are a major cause of soil erosion. Raindrops scatter soil and wash it into nearby streams and rivers. Areas with very high and frequent rainfall face large amounts of soil loss. Floodwaters also erode many soils by creating potholes and rock pools.
2. Agricultural Activities
Agricultural activities are a major cause of soil erosion. Agricultural activities disturb the soil. Trees are felled and the land is plowed and new seed is sown. Most crops are grown in the spring, so the land is fallow during the winter. Most of the soil is eroded in winter.
Tractor tires also leave grooves in the ground to create natural paths for water. Fine particles of soil are carried by the wind.
3. Pasture
Grazing animals eat grass and remove vegetation from the land. Their hooves dig into the ground. They also uproot plants. This loosens the soil and makes it more susceptible to erosion.
4. Mining Work
Mining activities also disturb the land, making it more susceptible to erosion.
5. Construction
Construction of roads and buildings exposes the soil to erosion. Forests and meadows are cleared for construction purposes, leaving soil exposed and susceptible to erosion.
6. Streams
Flowing rivers and streams carry soil particles, resulting in V-shaped erosive activity.
7. Winds
In dry weather and semi-arid regions, small soil particles are carried by the wind to distant lands. This degrades the soil and leads to desertification.
Impacts Of Soil Erosion
In the recent past, the problem of soil erosion occurs at international level. Most of the countries are facing this problem.
Agriculture sector is badly impacted due to soil erosion. loss of the nutrient-rich higher soil layers include reductions in agriculture output and ecological collapse. Some agricultural areas became completely desert.
The sedimentation of waterways, eutrophication of water bodies, and damage to roads and buildings caused by silt are examples of off-site consequences. The two main contributors to land degradation are wind and water. When flood come, top soil drained with water.
Beyond the loss of agricultural land, soil erosion has other negative repercussions. In streams and rivers, it has increased pollution and sedimentation, blocking these waterways and resulting in a loss in fish and other species. Additionally, deteriorated soils are frequently less able to retain water, which can make floods worse. By reducing soil erosion and degradation as well as the loss of valuable land to desertification, sustainable land use can help to lessen the effects of livestock and agriculture.
Prevention
Here are some tips to prevent soil erosion.
- Adopt plantation. Roots of trees hold soil.
- To stop any soil from washing away, place a number of fiber logs.
- Soil erosion can be prevented by constructing a wall around the garden.
- Use soil stabilization methods on slopes.
- Every home ought to have a suitable drainage system that directs water downward into suitable water collection structures.