In this contest the following figures speak about the extent of problem in india. Erosion occurs not only because of water but also by the action of wind and ice. Pdf soil is the most fundamental and basic natural resource for all life to survive. Soil erosion is a critical environmental problem throughout the worlds terrestrial ecosystems. Soil present in a steeper slope more than the soil present at a plane level of the. Vetiver grass has become a global bandaid in the prevention of soil erosion because it will grow in most climates and soils source.
Plant vegetation that will assist in the protection of your soil, like rye or. Soil erosion control requires products that are diverse, reliable, and equipped to handle the conditions of the project location. This, in turn, weakens the aggregate in the soil, causing collapses, and closing off soil pores. Geochemical modelling of groundwater for prevention of incrustation in. An onsite loss of agricultural potential an offsite effect of downstream movement of sediment, causing flooding and the silting up of reservoirs. The effects are not confined to the site of the disturbance. Soil erosion over decades can have detrimental effects on. Eroded material fill up balance between high areas and lower areas, it happens because of gravity. Development of management strategies to control soil erosion in.
Soil erosion is a natural process in which particles of soil are moved by wind and water, and displaced to another location. The causes of soil erosion are directly related to improper landuse, and are, therefore, entirely manmade. It may take some time to pinpoint the source of erosion, but with these tips in mind, you can beautify your. Total soil erosion on all cropland and land in crp declined since 1982 as well. Erosion may also impact water conveyance and storage structures, and contribute to pollution from land surfaces. Pdf methods of controlling soil erosion researchgate. High sodicity in soil causes clay to swell when its wet, and the clay particles move so far apart that they disperse. For example, exposure to soil containing high concentrations of benzene increases the risk of contracting leukaemia. Abstract water is life for all but this water is polluting day by day in severe condition.
Water erosion is caused by the detachment and transport of soil by rainfall, runoff, melting snow or ice, and irrigation. The washing away of the valuable topsoil is called erosion. Water and wind erosion are two main agents that degrade. Water erosion water erosion causes two sets of problems. Erosion erosion is the wearing away of the land surface by running water, wind, ice, or other causes. Soil erosion control products control and prevent erosion. Causes, consequences, prevention method and role of wbphed with special reference from murshidabad district rozina khatun research scholar, department of geography, tilka manjhi bhagalpur university, bihar, india. For texas farmers and ranchers, soil erosion is more than just an inconvenience it can reduce crop yields, drive up production costs, damage water quality, and even create safety hazards for both people and animals. Allowing your grass to grow to at least three inches will promote retention of water in the soil. Erosion reduces the productivity of ag soils, plugs road ditches, carries pollutants into streams, and clogs fish habitat. Farmers plant trees and grass to cover and bind the soil.
Rainfall energy is the prime cause of erosion from tilled or bare land. Gilley, in encyclopedia of soils in the environment, 2005. Soil erosion occurs when soil is removed through the action of wind and. Reducing the number of cultivation operations will benefit the soil structure and reduce soil erosion. Soil erosion is a naturally occurring process that affects all landforms. Between 1982 and 2003, total soil erosion dropped from an estimate of over 3. Causes of soil erosion soil erosion occurs when natural forces, such as wind and water, act on the soil. In either scenario, the land is stripped bare of valuable natural resources. Sheet erosion soil erosion is characterised by the downslope removal of. It is a serious environmental concern since it harbours many health hazards. Too much of soil erosion causes serious loss of topsoil and also reduces crop production potential, lower surface water quality, and damaged.
Regional assessment of the extent of soil erosion by water. It hurts the land and people where it takes place, so also the land and people where it gets deposited. Addressing soil erosion that results from rainfall, water flows, wind, or stormwater runoff, soil erosion control products stabilize areas to provide a firm foundation for vegetation and roads. Managing for soil erosion land resources and environmental.
The process may be natural or accelerated by human activity. By applying some relatively simple steps, you can control and prevent soil erosion. Soil erosion, especially in agricultural systems, affects everyone throughout the world. However, each subsequent cultivation disturbs the soil and detaches soil particles. Soil compaction, low organic matter, loss of soil structure, poor internal drainage, salinisation and soil acidity problems are other serious soil degradation conditions that can accelerate the soil erosion.
After rainfall and runoff, the soil settles and is less susceptible to erosion. This loss of cropland to the effects of soil erosion often results in the. Ideally, the movement of sand functions like a balanced budget. If the texture is loose that is the soil contains more of small grains and of open structure erodes faster. Excessive erosion can threaten the production of agricultural and forest products. The best choice of plants to prevent soil erosion are herbs, wild flowers and small trees. 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. It is the fairly uniform removal of soil in thin layers from the land surface, often scarcely perceptible, especially when caused by wind. Erosion destroys agricultural lands as the nutrients are washed away along with the soil.
The greatest challenge for sustainable soil management. A portion of the soil reaches the states streams, lakes, and coastal waters as sediment. The natural causes of soil erosion would include precipitation, wind velocity, soil characteristics, hydrology, and slope gradients. Erosion leads to nutrition loss of soil,convert green plains into desert. Soil erosion is also referred to as the creeping death. Man can also cause soil erosion by such practices as tilling a farmers field or the. 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. Fortunately, there are effective ways to control erosion. Pdf soil erosion is a natural process in which particles of soil are moved by wind and water, and displaced to. Depending on the local landscape and weather conditions, erosion may be very slow or very rapid.
When the layer of topsoil is removed, ground becomes unproductive and crops decrease. Sand moves parallel to the coast in longshore currents. This is especially useful for runoff of your physical structures. Assessing soil erosion although soil erosion has been taking place very slowly in natural ecosystems throughout geologic time, its cumulative impacts on soil quality over billions of years have been significant. This will maintain soil temperature and minimize erosion. When erosion occurs naturally, soil is relocated at about the same rate. Raindrops hit exposed soil with great energy and easily dislodge the soil particles from the surface. The four most common soil erosion prevention methods are vegetation, geotextiles, mulch, and retaining walls. Soil erosion and sedimentation processes and issues, illinois water quality laws and regulations related to erosion and sedimentation, speci. It pays economically and environmentally to keep soil in place.
Dont forget to plan for erosion control all year round preventing runoff during the spring and summer is equally as important as preventing erosion. Soil erosion is a major threat to soil health and agricultural productivity, with 10 million ha of cropland lost each year to erosive processes. The most effective form of erosion control is to minimise the area of disturbance. Soil erosion is the most serious precursor of soil degradation that comes with global implications. Processes and principles of erosion and sedimentation. Soil erosion pdf replaces omafra factsheet, soil erosion causes and effects, order no. Geochemical modelling of groundwater for prevention of incrustation.
The outcomes of soil erosion are reduced agricultural productivity, ecological collapse, soil degradation, and the possibility of desertification. Other soil conservation practicessuch as contour banks, filter strips and controlled trafficare important, but secondary to the maintenance of cover. Natural erosion has sculptured landforms on the uplands and built landforms on the lowlands. Coastal erosion has both natural causes and humanrelated activity causes. Factors and causes of soil erosion and the interaction between them. As soil erodes, it loses nutrients, clogs rivers with dirt, and eventually turns the area into a desert. Flowing water, rainwater, and the wind are the prime agents which cause a significant amount of soil loss each year.
Flooding and erosion florida department of environmental. Soil erosion soil erosion is the detachment and movement of soil material. Soil pollution refers to the contamination of soil with anomalous concentrations of toxic substances. Erosion inflicts multiple, serious damages in managed ecosystems such as crops, pastures, or forests as well as in natural ecosystems. 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. Ways to prevent soil erosion which method will you choose.
Although erosion happens naturally, human activities can make it much worse. Soil erosion is the process where wind, water and human beings detach soil particles and deposit them somewhere else. The impact of raindrops will break up the soil and water buildup will create runoff, taking sediment with it. Tillage erosion causes the thinning of soils on upper slope areas and can result in. Soil erosion occurs when soil is removed through the action. Read this article to learn about the meaning, factors, effects, types, causes and prevention of soil erosion. Running water is one of the main cause of soil erosion.
Solved examples with detailed answer description, explanation are given and it would be easy to understand. The key to controlling soil erosion by water is maintenance of a protective cover e. Soil erosion control solutions global road technology. This manual focuses primarily on the prevention of sedimentation problems associated with. In this paper, the diverse factors that cause soil erosion are assessed. In particular, erosion reduces the waterholding capacity because of rapid water runoff, and reduces soil organic matter. 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. Gradual coastal erosion occurs naturally from fluctuations in sealevel and by longshore drift. Bare soil is easily swept away by wind and water, the.
Some soil erosion is natural, but accelerated erosion is not. Soil erosion is harmful and useful at the same time. Causes of erosion erosion occurs when soil is left exposed to rain or wind energy. Plants prevent wind and water erosion by covering the soil and binding the soil with their roots. Therefore, it is important to prevent soil erosion. 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. Removal of vegetation cover has caused widespread erosion in western ghats, uttar pradesh and in himachal pradesh. Soil erosion can be a slow process that continues relatively unnoticed or can occur at an alarming rate, causing serious loss of topsoil.
Soil displaced by erosion contributes to both onsite and offsite damages. The eroded topsoil will ultimately inundate the planned drain system perhaps leading to enormous damages to surrounding land. Ways to prevent soil erosion simple solutions to prevent soil erosion. Soil erosion can happen slowly, gradually washing away top soil, or it can happen quickly in heavy rain events. 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. When this happens, water and air movement in sodic soils is. Causes, processes and effects soil erosion is a growing problem and constitutes a threat to soil quality and to the ability of soils to provide environmental services. Soil pollution definition, causes, types, effects, and.
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