An Introduction to Soil Erosion

Soil erosion has been accelerated in many areas of the world due to poor cultivation, overgrazing and the stripping of the land. Today, soil erosion is one of the most critical environmental problems, threatening farmlands, streams and villages.

Soil Erosion by Water

Rain splash erosion is soil erosion from rain drops falling at high intensity and physically moving the soil a few millimeters. Gully and rill soil erosion takes place when water falls too fast to infiltrate into the soil or the ground is already saturated. The water moves downhill, causing small and large channels to form in the hillside.

Soil Erosion by Wind

Wind soil erosion occurs when high winds move the soil over a distance. Most people think about the movement of sand dunes when they think of wind soil erosion. Nutrient-deficient and overgrazed soils may also be transported via wind erosion.

Tillage Erosion

Tillage soil erosion takes place when gravity moves soil downslope. This occurs most often on farms where soil is tilled and loosened and rolls downslope by gravity.

On-Site Effects

The on-site effects of soil erosion include a reduction in soil quality. Furthermore, soil erosion can also decrease a soil's ability to hold water. With both of these effects, soil becomes less able to grow vegetation successfully.

Off-Site Effects

Soil erosion also has an off-site effect, in that the sediments are transported to new locations. Sediments move to streams, reducing the dissolved oxygen in the water. Fertilizers and contamination are also transported to streams, which causes a decrease in water quality. Finally, flooding can occur when dams and stream beds are built up with sediment, causing the water level to rise.

References

• Soil Erosion