soil erosion
Soil erosion is a gradual process that occurs when the actions of water, wind, and other factors eat away and wear down the land, causing the soil to deteriorate or disappear completely. Soil deterioration and low quality of water due to erosion and run off has often become a severe problem around the world. Many times the problems become so severe that the land can no longer be cultivated and is abandoned. The key to minimizing soil erosion and saving the farm lands is the farmer himself. Ultimately, he is the one who must reduce the level at which erosion sediments are dislodged from his cropland. This program will discuss the erosion process, its effects on crops and the environment, and the Best Management Practices that can be implemented to limit or contain soil movement from the land.Soil erosion can be divided into two very general categories:· Geological erosion: Geological erosion occurs where soil is in its natural environment surrounded by its natural vegetation. This has been taking place naturally for millions of years and has helped create balance in uncultivated soil that enables plant growth. A classical example of the results of geological erosion is the Grand Canyon.
Soil that has been detached by raindrops is more easily moved than soil that has not been detached. BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Erosion, the detachment of particles of soil and surficial sediments and rocks, occurs by hydrological (fluvial) processes of sheet erosion, rilling and gully erosion, and through mass wasting and the action of wind. Erosion, both fluvial and eolian (wind) is generally greatest in arid and semi-arid regions, where soil is poorly developed and vegetation provides relatively little protection. One result is a natural alternation of gully filling and evacuation of sediment, especially in arid areas over decadal periods. Stream sediment degrades water supplies for municipal and industrial use, and provides an important transporting medium for a wide range of chemical pollutants that are readily sorbed on sediment surfaces.
Common topics in this essay:
THRESHOLDS Sediment,
DESCRIPTION Erosion,
Grand Canyon,
EROSION Soil,
THRESHOLDS Gully,
MEASURE MENTStandard,
ISSUES Land,
NATURAL CAUSEErosion,
FUTURE Knowledge,
SIGNIFICANCE Soil,
soil erosion,
wind erosion,
rill erosion,
sheet erosion,
gully erosion,
water erosion,
universal soil loss,
osterkamp wr,
department agriculture,
universal soil,
vegetation cover,
soil loss equation,
revised universal soil,
vigil network means,
network means observing,
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