Soil erosion is a major environmental issue because it can lead to water pollution. This factsheet looks at the causes and effects of water, wind and tillage erosion on agricultural land. Soil deterioration and low water quality due to erosion and surface runoff have become severe problems worldwide. Removal of vegetation cover, which binds the soil together, causes more soil available for surface runoff. Soil erosion and the effects of soil erosion on crop productivity have become emotional issues and have attracted the attention of agriculturists, environmentalists, and the public in general. Causes of soil erosion water and wind erosion causes.
Erosion can occur naturally by wind, water, and gravity. Although soil erosion is a natural occurrence on all land, there are certain factors that call accelerate erosion making it more noticeable and problematic. In addition to erosion, soil quality is affected by other aspects of agriculture. When soil erosion is severe, soil erodes faster than it can be renewed. Harmful effects of erosion on organic matter and soil structure. Soil erosion contributes to pollution in adjacent water sources and reduces cropland productivity.
Another cause of accelerated exposure is that exposed subsoils may increase erosion on adjacent areas of a field. The effects of soil degradation are not restricted to the soil alone, but have a number of offsite implications. Erosion occurs when the earth wears away, by wind, ice, or most commonly, water. Definitions, types, causes and consequences of soil erosion. One third of the worlds agricultural soils, or roughly 2 billion hectares of land, was reported as being affected by soil. Causes, effects, and solutions of soil erosion conserve. Types of soil erosion one of the most important things that we can do to ensure the health of our crops and nearby ecosystems is to reduce soil erosion. Soil erosion is a naturally occurring and slow process that refers to loss of fields top soil by water and wind or through conversion of natural vegetation to. An offsite effect of downstream movement of sediment, causing. An onsite loss of agricultural potential an offsite effect of downstream movement of sediment, causing flooding and the silting up of reservoirs. Readers should send their comments on this paper to. Fire that destroys vegetation and triggers erosion has the same effect.
Soil erosion effects on soil productivity southwest watershed. Due to formation of gullies and ravines, valuable agricultural lands are lost. For most areas of iowa, the loss of 1 inch per acre of. As a result, the basic causes, effects and remedies of wind erosion have been the focus of research by the usda s agricultural research service. Causes and efforts to control soil erosion in africa. Dregne soil erosion is the main reason why desertification is irreversible. Pdf soil is the most fundamental and basic natural resource for all life to survive. In this study, the diverse factors that cause soil erosion are evaluated. The top soil is lost by erosion which is the most fertile section, having evolved over centuries of soil forming processes.
Soil erosion is a major land degradation problem in south africa sa that has economic, social and environmental implications due to both onsite and offsite effects. This natural process is caused by the dynamic activity of erosive agents, that is, water, ice glaciers, snow, air wind, plants, animals, and humans. These impacts include compaction, loss of soil structure, nutrient degradation, and soil salinity. 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. Recommendations based on the research affirm the necessity to undertake largescale natural. While there are many different factors that can cause soil erosion. Soil erosion occurs when upper layers of soil are removed from their original location in the process that is either slow and goes unnoticed for long periods of time or can be sudden and cause immediate damage for example. The topsoil is lost by erosion which is the most fertile section, having evolved over centuries of soilforming processes. 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 roots of trees and other plants hold the topsoil in place. Vegeta tion can regenerate from a degraded state as long as the seed stock remains viable and there is soil for seeds to germinate and grow in. Lower organic matter content an thinner sola and less mature profile development on steeper slopes in humid region because profile development is retarded by erosion or reduced water infiltration. The problem may become so severe that the land can no longer be cultivated and must be abandoned. Causes and impacts of land degradation and desertification. The severity of soil erosion is also dependent on the soil type and the presence of vegetation cover. Soil erosion, for example, is often associated with increased incidence of flooding, siltation of rivers lakes and reservoirs and deposition of material in lowlying areas. But did you know that soil erosion also can seriously impair crop productivity. Deforestation can increase erosion rates due to exposure of mineral soil and removal of humus and litter layers. Semistructured questionnaires were randomly administrated to 99 farmers to collect survey data. Humans can also cause erosion or increase the rate of erosion through various activities. There are multiple causes and effects of erosion and solutions often involve conserving natural areas. Water and wind erosion are two main agents that degrade.
To keep rainwater on the soil surface for as long as possible and thus increase the rate at which water infiltrates the soil. 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. A by the national soil erosion soil productivity research planning committee, science and education administration ag ricu i t ural research ccurate estimates of future soil a productivity are essential to make agricultural policy decisions and to plan the use of land from the field scale to. Too much of soil erosion causes serious loss of topsoil and also reduces crop production potential, lower surface water quality, and damaged drainage networks. Major crops that cause soil erosion include coffee, cotton, tea, tobacco, palm oil, soybean and wheat that can increase soil erosion beyond the soil s ability to maintain itself. Water and wind are the two main mechanisms by which soil is eroded and transported. Water and wind erosion are key factors in the irreversibility of land degradation. The causes and effects of soil erosion, and how to prevent it. Soil is the most fundamental and basic natural resource for all life to survive.
Most agriculture activities, especially on sloping landscapes, increase the potential for soil erosion. The soil integrates a variety of important processes involving vegetation growth, overland flow of. Soil degradation ann verdoodt academic year 20112012 compilation of course notes by prof. Water and wind erosion are two main agents that degrade soils. You read cause and effects of soil erosion environmental sciences essay in category atoms perceptibly any addition in the usage of these agricultural inputs will ensue in diminution in he husbandmans net incomes from the by and large lower agricultural field benvenuti, 1988. Effect of shallow water table approximately parallel to the. To reduce the effects of raindrop splash erosion on exposed soil surfaces. Causes, effects and types of erosion water, wind, glacier.
Soil erosion is the displacement of the upper layer of soil, it is one form of soil degradation. Excessive grazing, deforestation, undesirable forest biota, and mechanical practices by man are important factors which cause soil erosion. The greatest challenge for sustainable soil management. To understand wind erosion and its control, we need to understand the processes involved. In agriculture, soil erosion refers to the wearing away of a fields topsoil by the natural physical.
Soil degradation is a global environmental problem which started since the innovation of agriculture by human kind. Deforestation is the commonest factor which is responsible for soil erosion. The rate of erosion can be increased by activities other than those of humans. Vegetation can regenerate from a degraded state as long as the seed stock remains viable and there is soil for seeds to germinate and grow in. Sheet erosion soil erosion is characterised by the downslope removal of soil particles within a. Cause and effects of soil erosion environmental sciences. Soil erosion is the main reason why desertification is irreversible. Soil erosion in africa threatens food and fuel supplies and can contribute to climate change. Soil erosion can be a slow process that continues relatively unnoticed or can occur at an alarming rate, causing serious loss of topsoil. Field trials and soil analysis were used to record effects of swc soil properties. Soil is not immune to erosion, and like rocks along a coastline, soil can erode due to the effects of forces, such as water, wind and farming practices.
It is the fairly uniform removal of soil in thin layers from the land surface, often scarcely perceptible, especially when caused by wind. Soil erosion is a natural process which has increasingly been exacerbated by human activities such as agriculture and deforestation. Impact on soil functions production, protection, etc, fertility. Soil erosion is the detachment and movement of soil material. Soil formation five factors of soil formation rocks parent. Tillage erosion causes the thinning of soils on upper slope areas and can result in.
Frost loosened soil is more susceptible to erosion by rain and snowmelt eroded soil can become saturated with spring breakup resulting in mass movement. The spectacular episodes of erosion, such as the soil blowing on. Causes, effects, and solutions of soil erosion conserve energy. The top soil is loaded with nutrients and organic matter critical for crop growth. Soil erosion reduces cropland productivity and contributes to the pollution of adjacent watercourses, wetlands and lakes. The primary causes are tillage, grazing, and cutting of timber. In spite of heavy investments in research and development, the global rates of accelerated erosion are now presumbly higher than ever before. For over a century, governments and aid organizations have tried to combat soil erosion in africa, often with limited effect. Organic matter within the soil does not cause resource concerns or resource management issues. Pdf soil erosion is a natural process in which particles of soil are moved by wind and water, and displaced to another location. Even the tiniest raindrop can pound the earth like a hammer, say scientists at vanderbilt university, who studied the effect of rain on erosion source.
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