Soil erosion 28-11-18

Erosion:

• Def: movement of soil particles due to natural processes.

• Causes of erosion:
a) Water erosion: movement of soil particles by water
b) Wind erosion : movement of soil particles by wind
 Types of erosion
I. Sheet and rill erosion : this occurs when a thin layer of a top soil is removed over while hill side paddock (this can be easily rehabilited by
small land management practices
Types of erosion cont…..

Gully erosion: is removal of soil along drainage lines by surface

water runoff.
Types of erosion cont…..

Stream bank erosion : this usually occurs banks of the river due to
destruction of vegetation
 Controlling erosion:
Here are some BMPS that are used to reduce or protect soil erosin are as follows :
A. Contour bunding and Farming
This is a simple farming practice or planting across a slope following elevation contour line, these contour lines create
water bank break which reduces the formation of rills and gullies during heavy rains.
Continue …..

• Strip Cropping
This method is a growing crops in strips or bands arranged to serve as barriers against
erosion, mostly used farmers tp protect risk of shade effect of cereal crops.
• Gully Reclamation
• Gully reclamation is the process of reinstating and improving land that has been
disturbed by excess runoff back to its original condition and preventing further
damage to it.
• Shelter belts are rows of trees, usually along fence lines. They are planted mainly to protect
cultivated land, shelter belts also reduce wind erosion.