What Is Loss of Top Soil?

Topsoil loss affects almost everyone, yet it remains a less prominent environmental subject. Replacing or replenishing lost topsoil requires extensive resources and logistics that most farmers do not have. Some topsoil may never return.

Identification

According to Iowa State's Integrated Crop Management website, topsoil erosion occurs when the amount of topsoil in the soil horizon--the different layers of soil--decreases.

Effects

The damage from topsoil loss results in a breakdown in general growth capacity, a loss of nutrients and less water retention. Enough topsoil damage can create completely barren soil.

Time Frame

The National Academy of Sciences claims that topsoil loss occurs at a rate 10 times faster than the natural replacement rate, reports the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Significance

According to estimates by Argonne National Laboratory, America has lost as much as 50 million acres of topsoil and another 100 million acres remain in dire need of reclamation.

Prevention/Solution

Because of the expense and length of time it takes to replace topsoil, the University of Michigan's Global Change website recommends that farmers prevent soil loss by using crop rotation. Anything worse than moderate damage requires resources the average farmer does not have.

References

• Topsoil Loss
• Topsoil Statistics
• Article: The lowdown on topsoil: It's disappearing

Resources

• Land Degradation