EMS-Agriculture and the environment, page no 81-85

Soil erosion is a gradual process that occurs when the impact of water or wind detaches and removes soil particles, causing the soil to deteriorate. Soil deterioration and low water quality due to erosion and surface runoff have become severe problems worldwide. Loss of this layer can seriously affect the fertility of the soil. There are a number of ways in which topsoil can be eroded.

• Removal of natural vegetation: Vegetation and brush removal is the act of clearing away dead and overgrown plants, debris, trees, and other vegetation.

• Overcultivation: The act or practice of cultivating land to an excessive degree in the growing of crops so that soil quality is degraded and productivity is reduced.

• Overgrazing: he act or practice of cultivating land to an excessive degree in the growing of crops so that soil quality is degraded and productivity is reduced.

• Wind erosion: Wind erosion is a natural process that moves soil from one location to another by wind power. It can cause significant economic and environmental damage.

• Water erosion: Water erosion is the removal of soil by water and transportation of the eroded materials away from the point of removal.

• Heavy rainfall: Extreme Heavy Rainfall is defined as rainfall greater than 100 mm in 24 hours. Heavy rainfall can lead to numerous hazards, for example: Flooding, including risk to human life, damage to buildings and infrastructure, and loss of crops and livestock.

• Rain rainfall: Runoff occurs when there is more water than land can absorb. The excess liquid flows across the surface of the land and into nearby creeks, streams, or ponds. Runoff can come from both natural processes and human activity.

• Gulley erosion: Gully erosion is a widespread and often dramatic form of soil erosion caused by flowing surface water.

  
  

Methods to reduce soil erosion:

• Terracing: Terracing is a soil conservation practice applied to prevent rainfall runoff on sloping land from accumulating and causing serious erosion.

• Contour ploughing: Contour ploughing is the process of farming by keeping the lines of contour on the sloppy regions. The contour lines contribute to improved water distribution in the crops.

• Bunds: Farm bunds are simply retaining walls along the boundary of agricultural fields. Their advantage is to contain rainwater in the field itself, which helps in retaining soil moisture for longer time.

• Windbreaks are linear plantings of trees and shrubs designed to provide economic, environmental and community benefits.

  
  

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