Soil erosion is a part of soil degradation. It’s when the topsoil and nutrients are lost either naturally, such as via wind erosion, or due to human actions, such as poor land management.
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. The problem may become so severe that the land can no longer be cultivated and must be abandoned.
Many agricultural civilizations have declined due to land and natural resource mismanagement, and the history of such civilizations is a good reminder to protect our natural resources.
Types of Erosion
- Sheet erosion (water) is almost invisible. Lighter colored soils are a sign that over the years erosion has taken its toll.
- Wind erosion is highly visible. Although it is a problem, water erosion is generally much more severe.
- Rill erosion occurs during heavy rains, when small rills form over an entire hillside, making farming difficult.
- Gully erosion makes gullies, some of them huge, impossible to cross with farm machinery.
- Ephemeral erosion occurs in natural depressions. It differs from gully erosion in that the area can be crossed by farm equipment.