Soil Erosion

Cause of Soil Erosion

Rainfall and Flooding
The raindrops disperse the soil. Regions with very heavy and frequent rainfall face a large amount of soil loss.

Agriculture
The agricultural activities disturb the ground. The trees are cleared and the land is ploughed to sow new seeds. Also, the tyres of tractors make grooves on the land, making a natural pathway for water. Fine soil particles are eroded by wind.

Grazing
The grazing animals feed on the grasses and remove the vegetation from the land. Their hooves churn up the soil. They also pull out plants by their roots. This loosens the soil and makes it more prone to erosion.

Logging
A large number of trees are cut down to carry out the logging process. Trees hold the soil firmly. The canopy of the trees protects the soil from heavy rainfall. The leaf litter that protects the soil from erosion, is also lost during logging.

Construction
The forests and grasslands are cleared for construction purposes, which exposes the soil making it vulnerable to erosion.

Rivers and Streams
The flowing rivers and streams carry away the soil particles leading to a V-shaped erosion activity.

Effects of Soil Erosion

Loss of Arable Land
Soil erosion removes the top fertile layer of the soil. This layer is rich in the essential nutrients required by the plants and the soil. The degraded soil does not support crop production and leads to low crop productivity.

Clogging of Waterways
The agricultural soil contains pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, and several other chemicals. This pollutes the water bodies where the soil flows. The sediments accumulate in the water and raise the water levels resulting in flooding.

Air Pollution
The dust particles merge in the air, resulting in air pollution. Some of the toxic substances such as pesticides and petroleum can be extremely hazardous when inhaled.

Desertification
It transforms the habitable regions into deserts. Deforestation and destructive use of land worsens the situation. This also leads to loss of biodiversity, degradation of the soil, and alteration in the ecosystem.

Destruction of Infrastructure
The accumulation of soil sediments in dams and along the banks can reduce their efficiency. Thus, it affects infrastructural projects such as dams, embankments, and drainage