Soil erosion

• Sometimes wind and water remove the fertile topsoil reducing the productivity of the soil in that area.
• This removal of soil by running water and wind is known as soil erosion.
• Generally, the rate of removal of fine particles from the surface is the same as the rate of formation of soil.
• But sometimes disturbance in this balance, usually man-made, lead to a greater rate of removal of soil.

Causes of Soil Erosion:

Deforestation:

• The removal of trees on a large scale is known as deforestation.

• When trees are removed, soil particles are left loose and can be easily carried away by running water and wind.

Overgrazing:

• Repeated grazing by animals on the same patch of land without sufficient recovery periods, leads to the removal of grass on a large scale.

Floods and heavy rainfall:

• Floods and heavy rainfall wash off soil, especially when there are no trees and the land is lying bare.

Improper farming:

• Improper farming on hills makes it easy for wind and water to erode soil.