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Soil Erosion is a natural process wherein the soil present at the top of a field is carried or eroded away through various physical sources like water or wind. Soil can be defined as the top layer of the Earth’s surface that is formed of rocks and dirt. Various kinds of organisms such as earthworms and other insects live in the soil, therefore it is filled with life and air. Soil provides habitat to these organisms and when soil erosion takes place, they will have no place to live. In addition to that, without soil, there would be no grass, no food, and no trees left. In this article, we will know more about soil erosion, its causes, effects, and how we can prevent it.
Key Terms: Soil Erosion, Weathering, Soil, Deforestation, Air Pollution, Soil Conservation, Earth, Habitat, Ecological Degradation
What is Soil Erosion?
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Soil Erosion is the situation in which the particles of soil are loosened or are washed away or eroded in the rivers, streams, oceans, valleys, or distant lands. The topmost layer of the soil is lost in this process and therefore the soil becomes less fertile. Soil is eroded by various natural physical sources such as water or wind. Human activities switch as agriculture and deforestation further increase the rate of soil erosion, thereby degrading the quality of soil even more. Soil erosion eventually results in ecological degradation, erosion of topsoil, and collapse of the soil altogether.
Soil Erosion
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Causes of Soil Erosion
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Soil erosion is caused by various natural sources that include deforestation, water, overgrazing by cattle, wind, etc. The various agents of soil erosion can be understood as follows:
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Wind
Heavy or strong winds remove the topsoil along with all the organic matter. This especially happens in desert areas and semi-desert regions where the land is not covered with plants or grass and where strong winds frequently blow.
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Rainfall and Flooding
Heavy rainfall can also be a cause of soil erosion. The droplets of rain infiltrate the soil and then wash it away to nearby rivers and streams. Regions having a high amount of rainfall see a lot of soil erosion. Floods can also cause soil erosion as the flowing water can wash away the top layer of the soil through the formation of rock-cut basins and multiple potholes.
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Agriculture
Agricultural activities disturb the soil and therefore are a major cause of soil erosion. In order to sow seeds, multiple lands are cleared and then plowed. As the growth of most plants occurs during the spring season, the land is uncultivated and barren in winters. This further paves way for the erosion of soil during this season. Also, while sowing the seeds, the tires of tractors form grooves on the land as a natural pathway for water, this weekend the top layer. The soil particles can escape or erode then by the wind.
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Overgrazing
When cattle or other animals graze on the same piece of land repeatedly, they eat all the available grass including the roots, and remove the vegetation. The topsoil then becomes weak and is highly vulnerable to being blown away by wind or flowing water.
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Logging and Mining
Trees are responsible for having a firm grip on the soil. Their canopies protect the soil from soil erosion as they prevent heavy rainfall from eroding the soil. However, due to logging, a large number of trees are cut down. The litter of the leaves that protects the soil is also lost in logging activities. Mining activities also disturb the soil and make it more prone to soil erosion.
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Construction
The soil becomes more vulnerable to soil erosion due to the construction of buildings and roads. As a number of trees, forests, and grasslands are cleared for construction, the soil is left more exposed.
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Deforestation
The large-scale cutting down of trees due to various purposes such as construction, industrialization, etc. contributes to soil erosion through flowing water or strong winds.
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Effects of Soil Erosion
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The major effects of soil erosion are as follows:
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Destruction of Infrastructure
When the soil sediments are accumulated along the banks and dams as a result of soil erosion, the efficiency of such infrastructure projects is reduced. Therefore, large-scale destruction of infrastructure could take place due to the erosion of soil.
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Air Pollution
The dust particles of the soil that are blown away by the wind merge with the air. This results in air pollution. Some of the toxic substances used in petroleum and pesticides are extremely toxic and harmful to health when they are inhaled.
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Loss of Arable Land
The top layer of the soil is rich in all the essential nutrients that are needed by the plants for their growth. After soil erosion, the soil is of degraded quality and does not support the healthy production of the crop, and yields low crop productivity.
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Desertification
The erosion of the soil changes the habitable regions in desert areas that are known as desertification. This eventually results in a loss of biodiversity, changes in the ecosystem, and degradation of the soil.
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Clogging of Waterways
The agricultural soil is full of insecticides, pesticides, fertilizers, and various other chemicals. When this soil flows in water bodies after erosion, it pollutes the water bodies. The sediments of the soil get accumulated and raise the levels of water, thereby increasing the risk of floods.
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| Relevant Concepts | |
|---|---|
| Crop Production | Manures and Fertilizers |
Types of Soil Erosion
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The different types of erosion of soil are:
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Splash or Rain Drop Erosion
The erosion of soil due to the raindrops falling on the surface of land that leads to a destruction of the crumb structure of the soil is known as splash or raindrop erosion.
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Gully Erosion
Gully Erosion happens when the surface water runoff leads to a removal of soil.
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Sheet Erosion
The uniform removal of the thin layers of soil due to the wind is referred to as sheet erosion. Areas of land with shallow and loose soil are highly vulnerable to sheet erosion.
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Rill Erosion
The erosion of soil in rill erosion takes place through narrow channels that are not straight and are known as head cuts or streamlets. It is the most common type of observed erosion.
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Stream Bank Erosion
It refers to the washing away of soil from banks or streams of a river.
Prevention of Soil Erosion
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Soil erosion is harmful to the environment. Some of the ways we can prevent the erosion of soil are as follows:
- Plant trees on uncultivated and barren lands so that the erosion of soil can be prevented.
- Add rocks and mulch in the soil to prevent the easy flow of soil.
- On slopes, the erosion of soil can be reduced through mulch matting.
- All the households should install a proper drainage system so that the water properly flows down the drain and through proper systems.
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| Related Topics | |
|---|---|
| Water Pollution | Ecosystem |
| Water Scarcity | Environment |
Soil Conservation
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Some of the ways through which we can conserve soil are as follows:
- Afforestation: The planting of trees is known as afforestation. Trees hold the soil together and prevent erosion of soil.
- Terrace Farming: Farming in hilly areas is done on the slopes of hills. Terrace farming, therefore, slows down the flow of soil or water preventing erosion of the soil. Soil erosion is prevented as the soil that is removed from a step is deposited on the next one, so it is not lost.
- Crop Rotation: Land lies barren in between the time when one crop is harvested and another is yet to be sown. It is a good practice for farmers to grow other crops or grass at that time to hold the soil together and prevent its erosion.
Things to Remember
- Soil erosion is the process of erosion of the topsoil through natural agents.
- Human activities switch as agriculture and deforestation further increase the rate of soil erosion, thereby degrading the quality of soil even more.
- When the vegetation is removed and the ground is dried, soil erosion occurs at a fast pace.
- Some of the causes of soil erosion are overgrazing, mining, farming, construction, and other recreational activities.
- Soil erosion has led to a degradation of land.
- It also increases the risk of floods due to sedimentation.
- The erosion of the soil changes the habitable regions in desert areas that are known as desertification.
Sample Questions
Ques. What are the main components of soil? (3 Marks)
Ans. Soil is mainly composed of organic and inorganic matter.
- Organic Matter = The ultimate organic matter present in the soil is humus. Humus is formed as a result of the decomposition of plant remains, waste of animals, and dead animals.
- Inorganic Matter = Soil is composed of three main inorganic materials which are clay, chalk, and silica.
Ques. What is soil erosion? (3 Marks)
Ans. Soil Erosion is the situation in which the particles of soil are loosened or are washed away or eroded in the rivers, streams, oceans, valleys, or distant lands. Soil is eroded by various natural physical sources such as water or wind. Human activities switch as agriculture and deforestation further increase the rate of soil erosion, thereby degrading the quality of soil even more. Soil erosion eventually results in ecological degradation, erosion of topsoil, and collapse of the soil altogether.
Ques. Explain various types of soil erosion. (5 Marks)
Ans. The different types of soil erosion are:
- Gully Erosion: This type of erosion is caused as a result of running down of water in certain paths.
- Splash Erosion: The type of soil erosion that is caused due to heavy rainfall and hailstones is known as splash erosion. It destroys the crumb structure of the soil.
- Sheet Erosion: The uniform removal of the thin layers of soil due to the wind is referred to as sheet erosion.
- Rill Erosion: The erosion of soil in rill erosion takes place through narrow channels that are not straight and are known as head cuts or streamlets. It is the most common type of observed erosion.
- Stream Bank Erosion: It refers to the washing away of soil from banks or streams of a river.
Ques. Why is the issue of soil erosion a cause of growing concern? (3 Marks)
Ans. Soil is a natural resource that may seem endless but it is in fact limited. Hundreds of years of processes have led to the formation of soil. The topsoil that is closest to the land contains all the necessary nutrients that a crop requires. The erosion of soil by wind or by water poses a threat to this very layer. This decreases the fertility of the soil which has a harmful effect on the crop yield.
The remains of soil get accumulated in the water bodies, increase the water level, and therefore lead to flooding. Soil erosion is a global level problem as the soil is getting eroded at a much higher rate than its rate of formation. Therefore, more and more land is turning unsuitable for agricultural purposes.
Ques. What are the causes of soil erosion? (5 Marks)
Ans. The causes of soil erosion are as follows:
- Mainly, soil erosion is caused as a result of large-scale cutting of trees and forests for a variety of purposes such as the burning of fuel, for manufacturing of paper, or for construction purposes. When these trees are cut down, the top layer of the soil is left exposed and therefore becomes vulnerable to soil erosion as there are no roots of trees left to bind the soil and no canopy to shield the effect of heavy rain. Flowing rainwater and strong winds can also cause soil erosion.
- Agricultural activities also disturb the soil and therefore are a major cause of soil erosion. In order to sow seeds, multiple lands are cleared and then plowed. As the growth of most plants occurs during the spring season, the land is uncultivated and barren in winters which makes it prone to soil erosion. The tires of tractors form grooves on the land as a natural pathway for water, this weekend the top layer. The soil particles can escape or erode then by the wind.
- When cattle or other animals graze on the same piece of land repeatedly, they eat all the available grass including the roots, and remove the vegetation. The soil then gets exposed and can be eroded away easily.
Ques. State the effects of soil erosion. (3 Marks)
Ans. The effects of soil erosion are as follows:
- The erosion of soil can transform lush green forests into barren deserts and therefore spoil the environment. When the topmost fertile soil is removed through the process of erosion, the sub-soil which is infertile is left behind. Plants can not grow in this infertile soil. Therefore, desertification happens.
- Soil erosion can also cause famines or excess scarcity of food. The food crops do not go well in the infertile soil. The yield is also bad and therefore there is an excessive shortage of food.
- Soil erosion can also lead to floods. The soil that is eroded away from the land through various natural agents of erosion gradually gets deposited on the beds of the river and their depth gets decreased. Due to this, rivers overflow very easily and can cause a severe level of floods in the surrounding areas.
Ques. What is soil conservation? What are various ways to conserve soil? (5 Marks)
Ans. Soil conservation includes the techniques that are practiced in order to conserve and preserve soil. Over-use of soil, erosion, and chemical salination are some of the factors that contribute to the loss of soil and degradation in the fertility of the soil. Some of the ways to conserve soil are as follows:
- Contour Plowing: Plowing grooves in the farmlands for the purpose of planting the seeds in the grooves in agriculture refers to contour plowing. It is a very effective way of agriculture on slopes that helps in preventing soil runoff and also improves crop yields.
- Terrace Farming: Carving many flat-leveled areas in the hilly regions is referred to as terrace farming. Steps are made in the form of terraces. These are surrounded by a wall of mud to prevent the runoff of water or soil. It also helps in holding the nutrients in the beds to ensure a good crop yield.
- Afforestation and Reforestation: Reforestation refers to the process through which new plants and crops are planted in an area that earlier used to have foliage but does not have it now. Afforestation, on the other hand, refers to the process through which new plants and crops are planted on a new piece of land that had previously been uncultivated or absolutely barren.
- Prevent Overgrazing: Try to avoid overgrazing by animals and cattle. When cattle or other animals graze on the same piece of land repeatedly, they eat all the available grass including the roots, and remove the vegetation. The topsoil then becomes weak and is highly vulnerable to being blown away by wind or flowing water. Hence, preventing overgrazing can help in the conservation of soil.
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