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TOPIC:

SCIENCE SOIL EROSION AND ITS CAUSES

This Phot o by U nknow n aut hor is licensed under CC BY-ND.


oil erosion
Soil erosion is the denudation or wearing away of the upper layer of soil. It is a
form of soil degradation. This natural process is caused by the dynamic activity of
erosive agents, that is, water, ice (glaciers), snow, air (wind), plants,
and animals (including humans). In accordance with these agents, erosion is
sometimes divided into water erosion, glacial erosion, snow erosion, wind
(aeolian) erosion, zoogenic erosion and anthropogenic erosion such as tillage
erosion.[1] Soil erosion may be a slow process that continues relatively unnoticed,
or it may occur at an alarming rate causing a serious loss of topsoil. The loss of soil
from farmland may be reflected in reduced crop production potential, lower
surface water quality and damaged drainage networks. Soil erosion could also
cause sinkholes.

This Phot o by U nknow n aut hor is licensed under CC BY.


Causes of Soil Erosion

 Deforestation: The main cause soil erosion is the removal of


vegetation or plants from the surface of the soil.It is called
deforestation.it exposes the soil to wind and water which carry
away the soil.
 Water: Heavy rains and flowing water which carry remove the
topsoil. Sometimes minerals present in the soil dissolve in water and
seep through the layers of the soil. The soil thus loses its fertility.
 Wind: Strong winds blow away particles of soil with it. It usually
takes place there is less vegetation.
 The sun: The heat of the sun evaporates the moisture of exposed
soil and dries it up dry soil breaks up easily and turns into small
particles. These are easily blown away by wind,resulting in soil
erosion.

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