This series of technical notes examines the urban activities causing soil degradation and sedimentation, and the. Solved examples with detailed answer description, explanation are given and it would be easy to understand. The introduction of high nutrient levels from runoff fertilizer causes dense algae. Erosion risk is significantly reduced when there is more than 30% soil cover. A good rotation should include densely planted small grains, spreading legume which may check soil erosion. Soil erosion occurs when natural forces, such as wind and water, act on the soil. It is the fairly uniform removal of soil in thin layers from the land surface, often scarcely perceptible, especially when caused by wind. Bare soil is easily swept away by wind and water, the. In this course well examine the causes and effects of wind erosion and common methods to control it.
Rain and subsequent flowing water carry along weathered rocks and other particles to be deposited at lower elevations. Eroded soil, called sediment, is the number one pollutant of our waterways. Soil erosion is the removalof the most fertile top layer of soil from the land surface through water, wind and tillage. Soil erosion has been considered as the primary cause of soil degradation because soil erosion leads to the loss of topsoil and soil organic matter, which are essential for the growing of plants.
Aug 24, 2018 lets have a look at the most common causes of soil erosion. The agents of soil erosion are the same as the agents of all types of erosion. Removal of natural vegetation as a precursor to soil disturbance. In either scenario, the land is stripped bare of valuable natural resources. Causes, effects, and solutions of soil erosion conserve energy. Mar, 2018 soil erosion is the weathering away of topsoil caused by water, wind or tillage. And while we have little control over the two main causes wind and rain we can take measures to minimize soil erosion and reduce its negative impact on our operations. Soil erosion is the most serious precursor of soil degradation that comes with global implications. Just look at any coastline, and you will notice how the constant pounding force from wind and waves causes.
Flow in these channels causes further erosion and carries soil particles away. In accordance with these agents, erosion is sometimes divided into water erosion. Soil erosion was a big problem in the midwestern united states in the 1930s dust bowl. Nearly 10 million hectares of arable land are lost to erosion and other forms of soil degradation every year 1 countries all over the world are battling with worrisome sight of deepening gullies crisscrossing the landscape and barren fields stripped of the fertile topsoil. The four most common soil erosion prevention methods are vegetation, geotextiles, mulch, and retaining walls. Soil erosion by water causes and mitigation jerry j. The impact of raindrops will break up the soil and water buildup will create runoff, taking sediment with it. Identifying erosion problems at the planning stage and noting highly erodible areas, helps in selecting effective erosion control practices and estimating storage volumes for sediment traps and basins. Soil erosion is the gradual wearing away of soil surface, which removes organic matter and key nutrients in the process. October 2010 agdex 5101 agricultural soil compaction. Soil erosion is a natural process in which particles of soil are moved by wind and water, and displaced to another location. Compaction of soil is the compression of soil particles into.
Runoff washes away the soil particles from sloping and bare lands while wind blows away loose and detached soil particles from flat and unprotected lands. Causes of soil erosion soil erosion occurs when natural forces, such as wind and water, act on the soil. Environmental pollution, types, causes, impact and. Soil erosion can happen slowly, gradually washing away top soil, or it can happen quickly in heavy rain events. The top layer of soil is very light which is easily carried away by wind and water. Economic research service report agriculture soil erosion and. Soil erosion control and veld rehabilitation rehabilitation efforts should not attempt to restore the ecosystem to some particular condition. This refers to growing of two or more different crops in sequence in a field for maintaining the soil fertility. It hurts the land and people where it takes place, so also the land and people where it gets deposited. Running water is the leading cause of soil erosion. A major factor for preventing soil erosion is educating. Soil erosion by water occurs when baresloped soil surface is.
Causes of erosion erosion occurs when soil is left exposed to rain or wind energy. The removal of topsoil by the natural forces is known as soil erosion. Causes of soil erosion water and wind erosion causes. If the soil has eroded, the crops that make food will not grow very well. Soil erosion is a process of detachment and transportation of soil by natural agencies of water and wind. Replaces omafra factsheet, soil erosion causes and effects, order no. It prevents erosion by maintaining the soil so it can absorb rainfall. 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.
Soil erosion is defined as the process of removal of soil from one surface, due to factors like rain, wind or others, and its disposition in some other areas. Add mulch and rocks to prevent the plants and grass underneath to prevent soil erosion. Soil erosion is the washing or blowing away by water or wind of the top layer of soil dirt. Pdf soil erosion is a natural process in which particles of soil are moved by wind and water, and displaced to another location. Dont forget to plan for erosion control all year round preventing runoff during the spring and summer is equally as important as preventing erosion. Processes and principles of erosion and sedimentation. Water is one of the strongest erosive agents that has a great potential to disturb the soil surface. This manual focuses primarily on the prevention of sedimentation problems associated with watergenerated soil erosion. Rill erosion occurs as shallow sheet flow concentrates into small channels. Major crops that cause soil erosion include coffee, cotton, tea, tobacco, palm oil.
In addition to erosion, soil quality is affected by other aspects of agriculture. Pdf soil erosion is a natural process in which particles of soil are moved by. Although students could tell which was which, i missed a key component keep reading to find out what that was. Also, wind erosion can create adverse operating conditions, preventing timely field activities. Preventing erosion cooperative extension university of. Erosion is one of the biggest concerns of earths land surface.
The effects of soil erosion go beyond the loss of fertile land. Leaving unploughed land strips between ploughed ones, known as strip cropping, also help reduce erosion. While there are many different factors that can cause soil erosion, most can be broken down into two main categories. It is the fairly uniform removal of soil in thin layers from the land surface, often. Read this article to learn about the meaning, factors, effects, types, causes and prevention of soil erosion. Soil erosion occurs when soil is removed through the action of wind and water at a greater rate than it is formed soil the soil covering the surface of the earth has taken millions of years to form and we must learn to respect it. Soil erosion not only despoils the earth for farming and other uses, but also increases the.
Jan 16, 2014 causes of soil erosion wind and water are the main agents of soil erosion. If the soil has eroded, the crops that make food will not grow very well soil erosion was a big problem in the midwestern united states in the 1930s dust bowl erosion also leaves large sinkholes in the ground, which can weaken buildings and even cause them. These impacts include compaction, loss of soil structure, nutrient degradation, and soil salinity. Following are some of the methods of soil erosion prevention. Farmers plant trees and grass to cover and bind the soil. Soil pollution types, effects, sources and control of soil pollution soil pollution soil pollution is defined as, contamination of soil by human and natural activities which may cause harmful effect on living organisms. Most often the watercaused erosion is table 1estlnfiated erosion by type and source, contiguous united states, 1992 land annual erosion type areaand source erosion acreyear. State conservation engineer usda natural resources conservation service. The outcomes of soil erosion are reduced agricultural productivity, ecological collapse, soil degradation, and the possibility of desertification. Soil erosion can be a slow process that continues relatively unnoticed or can occur at an alarming rate, causing serious loss of topsoil. In this study, the diverse factors that cause soil erosion are evaluated.
Preventing and managing erosion environment, land and water. This natural process is caused by the dynamic activity of erosive agents, that is, water, ice glaciers, snow, air wind, plants, animals, and humans. Plant roots keep soil bound together, and leaves shield the ground from the eroding splash of rain drops. Soil erosion is the displacement of the upper layer of soil, it is one form of soil degradation.
When things erode, they wear away due to some force acting on them. In forested areas, a minimum of 60% forest cover is necessary to prevent serious. Various agents, like wind, water, deforestation, overgrazing by cattle, etc. Depending on the duration and intensity of a rainfall, soils can exhibit signs of one of the four forms of the damage. 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. Component % organic mineral matter 45 organic matter 05 soil water 25 soil air 25. Erosion can undercut and cause bank failure on pedestrian and vehicle routes, increasing risk of injury and death. Raindrops hit exposed soil with great energy and easily dislodge the soil particles from the surface. Soil erosion occurs when soil is removed through the action. Water is a liquid drank by humans, animals, and plants. Water and wind erosion are two main agents that degrade soils. Although soil erosion is a natural process, it is often accelerated by human activities, for example by the clearing of vegetation, soil tillage or overgrazing. Gully erosion is an accelerated form of rill erosion where the channels are much deeper and carry away larger quantities of soil.
Geochemical modelling of groundwater for prevention of incrustation. Causes of soil erosion the agents of soil erosion are the same as the agents of all types of erosion. 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. Soil erosion can also lead to mudslides and floods, negatively affecting the structural integrity of buildings and roadways. More land is cleared and less left fallow, which can deplete the soil and increase water runoff. Due to soil erosion, the soil becomes less fertile. Surface cover is a major factor to control erosion because it reduces the impact of raindrops falling on bare soils and wind removing soil particles.
When strong winds blow, the topsoil along with the organic matter is carried away by the wind. Plant trees on barren lands to limit erosion of soil. Too much of soil erosion causes serious loss of topsoil and also reduces crop production potential, lower surface water quality, and damaged drainage networks. The greatest challenge for sustainable soil management. Overgrazing and poor farming techniques can also lead to soil erosion, but it is important to remember that not all causes are human. Copies on dvd or vhs tape can be obtained by contacting the author. Quantification of soil loss is a significant issue for soil and water conservation practitioners and policy makers. Although soil erosion is a natural occurrence on all land, there are certain factors that call accelerate erosion making it more noticeable and problematic.
Flowing water, rainwater, and the wind are the prime agents which cause a significant amount of soil loss each year. Although erosion happens naturally, human activities can make it much worse. Total cover is achievable for many grazing and cropping systems. This factsheet looks at the causes and effects of water, wind and tillage erosion on agricultural land. Precipitation is the most forceful factor causing erosion. Surface cover is the key to erosion control in grazing lands. Too much of soil erosion causes serious loss of topsoil and also reduces crop production potential, lower surface water quality, and damaged. Causes, effects and types of erosion water, wind, glacier. Soil erosion reduces cropland productivity and contributes to the pollution of adjacent watercourses, wetlands and lakes. Soil erosion is a naturally occurring and slow process that refers to loss of fields.
Soil conservation is the preventing of soil loss from erosion or reduced. Factors, types, causes and effects in india riya kapoor soil erosion, soil erosion is a process of detachment and transportation of soil by natural agencies of water and wind. Water erosion is the most pertinent erosion problem in iowa. Pdf soil is the most fundamental and basic natural resource for all life to survive. Soil erosion is a major environmental problem confronting land and water resources in south africa. By applying some relatively simple steps, you can control and prevent soil erosion. Tillage erosion causes the thinning of soils on upper slope areas and can result in. Major causes and effects of soil erosion on the environment.
Causes and efforts to control soil erosion in africa. Soil erosion is the detachment and movement of soil particles from the point of origination through the action of water or wind. Soil is the most fundamental and basic natural resource for all life to survive. Ways to prevent soil erosion which method will you choose. The best choice of plants to prevent soil erosion are herbs, wild flowers and small trees. Soil erosion in south africa its nature and distribution. Preventing and managing erosion environment, land and.
Ways to prevent soil erosion simple solutions to prevent soil erosion. Causes and management s oil compaction can be a serious and unnecessary form of soil degradation that can result in increased soil erosion and decreased crop production. Causes of soil degradation and methods for soil conservation. Prevention and remediation of soil erosion and degradation the most effective method to prevent erosion is to increase the vegetation cover on soil, thus preventing wind and water erosion. Soil pollution types, effects, sources and control of. Man can also cause soil erosion by such practices as tilling a farmers field or the. Causes and types of soil erosion the movement of water over the soil surface causes about threefifths of the estimated erosion on u. When erosion occurs naturally, soil is relocated at about the same rate. Plants prevent wind and water erosion by covering the soil and binding the soil with their roots.
Compost utilization for erosion control uga cooperative. There are many factors which influence the process of soil erosion. Pdf methods of controlling soil erosion researchgate. When erosion occurs naturally, soil is relocated at about the same rate it is created, so no harm is done to the environment. Agdex 572751 october 2012 replaces omafra factsheet, soil erosion causes and effects, order no. The amount of soil they can carry away is influenced by two related factors. Thus, minimizing the impact of water or wind forces is the main objective for erosion control.
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