What Causes Soil Degradation

Soil degradation is an alarming concern that poses significant risks to the environment and the supply of food worldwide. 

Key Highlights

• Soil degradation has risen in recent decades due to agricultural practices such as overgrazing, construction activities, etc.
• Soil erosion is one of the most common types of soil degradation in which the top layer of soil is washed away.
• Using sustainable land management practices consistently over time is necessary to reduce soil degradation. 
• Deforestation is the root cause of soil degradation which results from continuous man-made activities.
• Deep mining activities and waste disposal from factories also pollute the earth with heavy metals.

Key Terms: Soil Degradation, Causes of Soil Degradation, Soil Fertility, Soil Erosion, Deforestation, Mining

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What is Soil Degradation?

Soil degradation is a process by which soil quality deteriorates and reduces its ability to sustain plants and animals. 

• In addition to the adverse effects of hazardous chemicals, pollutants, or excessive rainfall, it may lead to soil erosion.
• Although it is a natural process, human activities can also contribute to soil degradation. 
• Excessive irrigation raises the salinity and alkalinity of the soil, making it unsuitable for human use. 
• This damages and degrades the soil fertility.

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What are the Causes of Soil Degradation? 

Soil is a valuable, nonrenewable resource that supports the lives of animals, plants, and other essential species. Therefore, deterioration in the quality of soil may lead to ecological disturbance. 

Factors Contributing to Soil Degradation

The following are some of the important factors that cause soil degradation: 

Deforestation

Deforestation occurs when large amounts of trees are cut down to meet human requirements. Three conditions occur when trees are removed via cutting or slash-and-burn techniques: soil erosion, decreased soil fertility, and accumulation of hazardous materials.

Physical factors

The physical factors mainly include floods, landslides, and storms which cause the loss of topsoil.

Biological Factors

These include plant and human actions that degrade the quality of the soil. Decreased soil fertility can also result from improper farming methods and improper fertilizer management. 

Mining and Industrial Activities

These practices add to soil pollution. Mining makes the soil unsuitable by destroying the crops and releasing hazardous chemicals into it. The discharge of wastes and effluents from factories contaminates the soil, impacting its chemical, biological, and physical characteristics.

Causes of Soil Degradation