Soil erosion - Causes and Effects of Soil Erosion

Soil erosion :

Soil Erosion is the process of removal of superficial layers of the soil from one place to another. Soil erosion also removes the soil components and surface liter.

Types of Soil Erosion :

1. Normal Erosion : It is caused by the gradual removal of top soil by the natural processes. The rate of erosion is slower.

2. Accelerated erosion : It is mainly caused by man-made activities. The rate of erosion is much faster than the rate of formation of soil.

Harmful effects of soil erosion :

1. Soil fertility is lost because of loss of top soil layer.

2. Loss of its ability to hold water and sediment.

3. Sediment runoff can pollute water and kill aquatic life.

Causes of (factors causing) soil erosion :

1.Water : Water affects soil erosion in the form of rain, run-off, rapid flow, wave action.

2.Wind : Wind is the important climatic agent, which carry away the fine particles of soil and creates soil erosion.

3.Biotic agents : Overgrazing, mining and deforestation are the major biotic agents, cause soil erosion.

Due to these processes, the top soil is disturbed exposed directly to the action of various physical forces, which induces erosion.

35% of the world soil erosion is due to overgrazing .

30% of the worlds soil erosion is due to deforestation .

4.Landslides: It also causes soil erosion.

5.Construction : Construction of dams, buildings, roads removes the protective vegetal cover and leads to soil erosion.

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