Soil erosion on irrigated lands nwisrl publications. Soil erosion caused by rainfall is the application of energy from two distinct. The greatest challenge for sustainable soil management. It is the fairly uniform removal of soil in thin layers from the land surface, often. This natural process is caused by the dynamic activity of erosive agents, that is, water, ice glaciers, snow, air wind, plants, animals, and humans. As a primary cover of slope land, crops have an important influence on the occurrence and development of runoff and soil erosion on slope land. Jan 16, 2014 causes of soil erosion wind and water are the main agents of soil erosion. Sometimes water flows as a sheet over large areas down a slope. Below we discuss what soil erosion is and how it is caused, as well as how it impacts agriculture. Construction is one of the major causes of erosion in michigan. Soil erosion reduces cropland productivity and contributes to the pollution of adjacent watercourses, wetlands and lakes.
Soil erosion is the detachment, transport and deposition of soil particles on land surface. Effects of soil erosion on soil properties as related to crop. Soil compaction can be a serious form of soil degradation. Soil erosion soil erosion is the washing or blowing away by wind or water of the top layer of soil dirt. Most agriculture activities, especially on sloping landscapes, increase the potential for soil erosion.
The removal of topsoil by the natural forces is known as soil erosion. Vegetation cover is vital to prevent sheet erosion because it protects the soil, impedes waterflow and encourages water to infiltrate into the soil. Soil erosion is an extremely dynamic and complicated process. Causes and types of soil erosion the movement of water over the soil surface causes about threefifths of the estimated erosion on u. Finally, we discuss what are the necessary steps that need to be taken to prevent soil erosion, and why. Socioeconomic factors in soil erosion and conservation john boardman a. Soil erosion effects on soil productivity southwest watershed. Nationally, productivity of eroded soils related closely to the environment. Michigans part 91 law covers erosion control permits for earthwork and building projects. Ppt soil erosion powerpoint presentation free to view. Processes, prediction, measurement, and control pdf, epub, docx and torrent then this site is not for you. This series of technical notes examines the urban activities causing soil degradation and.
The soil integrates a variety of important processes involving vegetation growth, overland flow of. Various agents, like wind, water, deforestation, overgrazing by cattle, etc. Most soil erosion is caused by natural processes such as water flowing downhill and by the wind. Soil erosion is affected by many factors, among them topographic position of slope, vegetation and soil type have a momentous role on erosional behavior of soil morgan, 1986. When soil erosion is severe, soil erodes faster than it can be renewed. Soil erosion is characterized by the down slope removal of soil particles within a thin sheet of water. Soil degradation is a narrower term, and one form of land degradation, for declining soil quality, encompassing the deterioration in physical, chemical and biological attributes of the soil 11. The outcomes of soil erosion are reduced agricultural productivity, ecological collapse, soil degradation, and the possibility of desertification. Soil erosion is the main reason why desertification is irreversible. Compaction of soil is the compression of soil particles into. This article investigates what causes soil erosion and if there are ways of preventing it. Soil erosion occurs when natural forces, such as wind and water, act on the soil.
Depending on the local landscape and weather conditions, erosion may be very slow or very rapid. Soil erosion is the weathering away of topsoil caused by water, wind or tillage. Man can also cause soil erosion by such practices as tilling a farmers field or the. Soil erosion by wind or water is a selective process where the organicrich topsoil is lost lowery et al. You will notice the rain water moving through areas like a stream carrying debris such. 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. In this study, the diverse factors that cause soil erosion are evaluated. 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. Everyone in michigan is affected by erosion and offsite sedimentation. It leaves the affected area exposed to more sporadic erosion making it a sequential occurrence. Erosion on the upper portion and sedimentation on the lower portion of fields redistributes topsoil. Pdf socioeconomic factors in soil erosion and conservation. When a raindrop hits soil that is not protected by a cover of vegetation and where there are no roots to bind the.
Causes and efforts to control soil erosion in africa. This study was conducted at the northeast wollega in west ethiopia to estimate the soil losses by means of the revised universal soil loss 5 equation rusle. Water and wind erosion are two main agents that degrade soils. Sample paper see above the causes of soil erosion are more important than the solutions going by past exam papers. This handbook explains the causes, processes, and consequences of soil erosion and depletion, and describes the major soil and waterconservation measures which, when applied to the land in correct combinations, will greatly reduce or prevent soil erosion, improve fertility, and increase yields. The amount of soil they can carry away is influenced by two related factors. The primary causes are tillage, grazing, and cutting of timber.
Soil erosion is a process of detachment and transportation of soil by natural agencies of water and wind. When strong winds blow, the topsoil along with the organic matter is carried away by the wind. When things erode, they wear away due to some force acting on them. October 2010 agdex 5101 agricultural soil compaction.
If you are undertaking an earth change any type of clearing, grubbing, bulldozing, excavating, grading, building, etc. Soil erosion is the process that erodes, breaks or gradually diminishes things down. The process of erosion usually takes place on the surface of soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the earths crust and with the help of the wind or water flow, it gets to settle down at another location. Introduction to soil erosion grow for it nc state extension. The process may be natural or accelerated by human activity.
The impact of raindrops will break up the soil and water buildup will create runoff, taking sediment with it. Destabilise the soil surface, making the soil more susceptible to removal by runoff reduce the amount of vegetation covering the soil surface sheet erosion. Too much of soil erosion causes serious loss of topsoil and also reduces crop production potential, lower surface water quality, and damaged. 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 has sculptured landforms on the uplands and built landforms on the lowlands. Readers should send their comments on this paper to. Precipitation is the most forceful factor causing erosion. Effects of soil erosion on soil properties as related to crop productivity and classification w. Soil erosion is one of the most serious environmental and public health. 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 is likely the greatest degrader of soil quality by natural forces because when soil is lost by erosion it is generally not replaced by natural weathering processes within a human life time alewell et al. Soil erosion is the displacement of the upper layer of soil, it is one form of soil degradation. Water and wind are the two main mechanisms by which soil is eroded and transported. Causes of soil erosion soil erosion occurs when natural forces, such as wind and water, act on the soil. 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. Soil erosion can cause damage to the environment and crops. Soil erosion is a major environmental issue because it can lead to water pollution. The spatial and temporal variability of this phenomena are very high within a catchment. Explains soil erosion and the processes that cause exacerbate it, including human activities. Economic research service report agriculture soil erosion. Soil erosion has become a serious environmental problem worldwide, and slope land is the main source of soil erosion. Use of fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, dumping of solid waste, deforestation, and pollution due to urbanization and other anthropogenic substances causes soil pollution. The ability of rainfall to cause soil detachment and transport.
Rill erosion rills are shallow drainage lines less than 30cm deep. Destruction of forest can cause a habitat loss b floods and droughts c soil erosion and degradation d all of the above ans. Dec 23, 2014 this study examines the causes and consequences of gully erosion, as perceived by the local people of dangara area, nigeria. World soil day was established in 2002 by the international union of soil sciences iuss to celebrate the importance of soil and its vital contributions to human health and safety. There are many factors which influence the process of soil erosion. Raindrops hit exposed soil with great energy and easily dislodge the soil particles from the surface. But did you know that soil erosion also can seriously impair crop productivity. Effect of erosion on the condition of soil and land shape how the slope of land affects the amount of soil carried away natnat and goyongs exploration in the world of soil breaking of rocks soil types no spoken instructions soil types includes spoken instructions.
Tillage erosion causes the thinning of soils on upper slope areas. Just look at any coastline, and you will notice how the constant pounding force from wind and waves causes. Erosion also leaves large holes in the earth, which can weaken buildings and even cause them to collapse. Prevention of soil erosion changes of soil erosion beam 4 unit 7 dlp 52. For most areas of iowa, the loss of 1 inch per acre of. The study particularly seeks to explore the local peoples perceptions of gully erosion and how it affects crop, settlement development, crop yields, land ownership and values, rural economics and private conservation investments in dangara area of nigerias federal. 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. Nov 15, 2019 the factors which disturb the biological balance of the soil and deteriorate the quality, texture, and mineral content are called soil pollutants. Accelerated erosion is largely the consequence of human activity. Wind blows loose soil off flat or sloping land known as wind erosion. If youre looking for a free download links of soil erosion. The visual evidence of topsoil redistribution would be lacking where subsoil and topsoil are nearly the same color. Generally, soil erosion is the relocation of the topsoil layer from its original location.
Coastal erosion pdf causes,impact,mitigation measures the shorelines and beaches in india serve multidimensional needs such as recreational purpose, seaport for maritime commerce, residential and commercial structures, etc. The surface water flows that cause sheet erosion rarely flow for more than a few metres before concentrating into rills. Soil erosion is the main driver of land degradation in ethiopia, and in the whole region of east africa. Conservation tillage eliminates or restricts tilling in traditional tilling, surface soil is inverted, plant residue buried bare soil. It hurts the land and people where it takes place, so also the land and people where it gets deposited. Economic research service report agriculture soil erosion and.
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 can be a slow process that continues relatively unnoticed or can occur at an alarming rate, causing serious loss of topsoil. Soil erosion soil erosion is the detachment and movement of soil material. Pesticides and other chemicals can get trapped in soil, polluting streams and rivers as the soil breaks apart. Major causes and effects of soil erosion on the environment. Coastal erosion pdf causes,impact,mitigation measures. Depending on the duration and intensity of a rainfall, soils can exhibit signs of one of the four forms of the damage. Read this article to learn about the meaning, factors, effects, types, causes and prevention of soil erosion. While there are many different factors that can cause soil erosion, most can be broken down into two main categories. Water is one of the strongest erosive agents that has a great potential to disturb the soil surface. Soil erosion is a disastrous form of environment degradation whose effects is multi dimensional. Although soil erosion is a natural occurrence on all land, there are certain factors that call accelerate erosion making it more noticeable and problematic.
The results of these processes become visible when the color of the subsoil differs from that of the topsoil fig. Causes of erosion erosion occurs when soil is left exposed to rain or wind energy. Soil erosion can also lead to mudslides and floods, negatively affecting the structural integrity of buildings and roadways. Causes of soil erosion water and wind erosion causes. With the growth of population in the coastal zone, more competing pressures are being put on the shores and beaches. 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.
Flowing water, rainwater, and the wind are the prime agents which cause a significant amount of soil loss each year. Climate the two most important climatic factors having a direct effect on erosion are. Land use humans play a major role in soil erosion through their use and abuse of natural resources, examples are deforestation, grazing, faulty farming systems, high crop intensity, housing construction, mining etc. Effects of rainfall patterns on runoff and soil erosion in. Soil is the most fundamental and basic natural resource for all life to survive. Soil erosion is the process of wind and water moving soil particles from one. 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.
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