Name any three causes of soil degradation pdf

Causes of soil erosion water and wind erosion causes. Soil compaction, low organic matter, loss of soil structure, poor internal drainage, salinisation and soil acidity problems are other serious soil degradation conditions that can accelerate the soil erosion. This causes soil erosion, loss of plants and trees, disturbs natural wildlife and other plant life. Not only human action can cause degradation to occur, but also natural causes such as the nature of rainfall amount, intensity, variability, distribution, soil texture, structure, depth, moisture, infiltration rate and topography play an important role in the scope and scale of occurring degradation features. The three degradation terms, environmental degradation, land degradation, and soil degradation, are defined as any change or disturbance to the environment, land, or soil perceived to be. Soil degradation results from construction, contamination, and erosion. Loss of organic matter by clearing the natural vegetation is also included in this type, of chemical soil degradation, although it often has a negative influence on the soil physical properties as well. Uk soil degradation soil degradation involves both the physical loss erosion and the reduction in quality of topsoil associated with nutrient decline and contamination. A world map of humaninduced soil degradation produced by the global assessment of human induced soil degradation glasod shows that there are three major types of land degradation. It generally refers to the decline in soil s inherent capacity to produce economic goods and perform ecologic functions lal, 1993. Land degradation is, however, difficult to grasp in its totality. Loss of natural fertility of soil because of loss of nutrients.

Farming, construction and development, and mining are among the main activities that impact soil resources. Peat erosion the uk has around 15% of the worlds blanket peat, a unique ecosystem that covers around 8% of the uk land area, mainly in upland britain. Blum, 1990, 1998 soil degradation means loss or deterioration of its functions. Tillage and cropping practices that reduce soil organic matter levels, cause poor soil structure, or result in soil compaction, contribute to increases in soil erodibility. By applying some relatively simple steps, you can control and prevent soil erosion. This section describes land degradation trends in kenya as an introduction to the following pairs of satellite images that show this degradation on the ground. In the soil erosion, uppermost fertile layer of soil which contains essential nutrients is lost.

The present rate of land degradation is estimated at 5 to 7 million hectares per year, suggesting that 0. Several types of soil degradation exist and are a threat to natural forests and planted crops. The causes of land degradation can be divided into natural hazards, direct causes, and underlying causes. Maximum chloride ion content of concrete aci 318 maximum type of member cl prestressed concrete 0. Soil loss by erosion is the main cause of soil degradation in the mediterranean region. Forests play an important role in maintaining fertility of soil by shedding their leaves which contain many nutrients. What are causes and effects of environmental degradation. Any activity that exposes soil to wind and rain can lead to soil loss. Managing soil degradation the main thing is to allow for increased cover. The effects of soil erosion can be felt both onsite, meaning at the site of soil disruption, or offsite, meaning the location where the eroded soil deposits. In some areas, soil erosion cannot be reversed, while in others nearly complete removal of soil has been observed. Ways to prevent soil erosion which method will you choose. Soil degradation is defined as a process that causes deterioration of soil.

Land pollution is the degradation of earths surface. Soil erosion can be a slow process that continues relatively unnoticed or can occur at an alarming rate, causing serious loss of topsoil. Pollution is the introduction of damaging or poisonous materials into the natural environment. Icse solutions for class 7 geography voyage weathering and soil. Pollution of water resources from the contamination of. Deicing salts are a major cause of corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete. Causes and features of watershed degradation related to. Soil retrogression and degradation are two regressive evolution processes associated with the loss of equilibrium of a stable soil. Reduced soil fertility may result in soil erosion, toxification, salination and desertification. Soil degradation is any type of problem that removes soil in an area or makes highquality soil become poor. Chapter 6 causes of land degradation food and agriculture. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. This also impact water quality with a greater risk of soil runoff. Causes of soil degradation and methods for soil conservation.

Natural hazards are the conditions of the physical environment which lead to the existence of a high degradation hazard, for example steep slopes as a hazard for water erosion. It generally refers to the decline in soils inherent capacity to produce economic goods and perform ecologic functions lal, 1993. Careless agricultural practices, pollution and deforestation cause lots of soil degradation in the world. But, most soils are composed of a combination of the different types. While environmental degradation is most commonly associated with the activities of humans, the fact is that environments are also constantly changing over time. Soil degradation, defined as lowering and losing of soil functions, is becoming more and more serious worldwide in recent decades, and poses a threat to agricultural production and terrestrial ecosystem.

According to global assessment of soil degradation glasod, deforestation is the main cause of soil erosion by wind in about 98% of the area. Soil is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life. Causes of soil acidification acid soils can be naturally occurring, however, a number of agricultural practices have expanded the areas of such soils. Soil deterioration by contamination is an important issue in central, western and northern europe. Causes and features of watershed degradation related to mhp. How they mix will determine the texture of the soil, or, in other. Whilst soil degradation is recognised as a major aspect of land degradation, other processes which affect the productive capacity of cropland, rangeland and forests, such as lowering of the water table and deforestation, are captured by the concept of land degradation. Land degradation is a process in which the value of the biophysical environment is affected by a combination of humaninduced processes acting upon the land. Soil conservation measures include soil conditioners such as organic materials and lime, wind reduction techniques wind breaks, shelter belts, cultivation. Farming farming is very important to society because almost all of the worlds food is grown on farms. It is estimated that nearly 2 billion ha of soil resources in the world have been degraded, namely approximately 22% of the total cropland, pasture, forest, and.

All of these functions, in their turn, modify the soil and. As soil erodes, it loses nutrients, clogs rivers with dirt, and eventually turns the area into a desert. Soil structure is the important property that affects all three degradative processes. Soil science institute of athensnational agricultural. Equally, pollution means the presence of undesirable materials in the natural environment or the state of the natural environment being contaminated with potentially harmful substances as an outcome of human activities. A typical soil is about 50% solids 45% mineral and 5% organic matter, and 50% voids or pores of which half is occupied by water and half by gas.

Name a management strategy that would help to prevent soil degradation. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. Soil degradation is the inability of soil to support the growth of crops. Soil loss from conventionally tilled land exceeds the rate of soil formation by 15 2 orders of magnitude medium confidence. Degradation is an evolution, different from natural evolution, related to the local climate and vegetation. Dec 18, 2016 overfarming and overgrazing by agricultural activities causes the soil to lose its nutrient value and structure causing soil degradation, another type of soil pollution. The percent soil mineral and organic content can be treated as a constant in the short term, while the percent soil water and gas content is considered highly variable whereby a rise in one is simultaneously balanced by a reduction in the other. Land degradation is the major consequences of direct interference of human activities in the natural phenomenon. The main causal factor is the growth of plants that use large amounts of basic ions e. Land use changes and unsustainable land management are direct human causes of land degradation very high confidence, with agriculture being a dominant sector driving degradation 14 very high confidence. Destruction of natural vegetation cover is a major factor responsible for erosion of soils by water and wind. To improve the structure of the soil by better farming methods e. Ways to prevent soil erosion simple solutions to prevent soil erosion. Minimizing soil degradation is important in maintaining a good environment.

Landfills can leach harmful substances into the soil and water ways and create very bad smells, and breeding grounds for rodents that transmit diseases. Evaluation of the impacts of these techniques how effective or not are they. Thus soil becomes deficient in essential minerals and this results in productivity loss. Synthetic pesticides indirectly degrade soil by harming the beneficial soil organisms whose presence are crucial for the soil fertility and soil structure needed to support the growth of crops.

Soil, as a geogenic and cultural heritage, forms an essential part of the landscape and is a source of paleontological and archeological evidence, relevant for the understanding of the evolution of earth and mankind. It directly affects the plants and indirectly to human beings. Potential environmental consequences span from famine and water pollution to reductions in biodiversity and ecosystem efficiency. Human actions have also caused many large areas of land to lose or reduce their capacity to support life forms and ecosystems. Retrogression is primarily due to soil erosion and corresponds to a phenomenon where succession reverts the land to its natural physical state. Land degradation indicators and management options in. Thus, land degradation is a biophysical process driven by socioeconomic and political causes. The result is a loss of land productivity with impacts on livelihoods and the economy. Forests are also helpful in binding up of soil particles with the help of roots of vegetation.

Cutting down the trees and forests, overgrazing by animals, floods, and improper farming practices are some of the main causes of soil erosion. Soil degradation is a serious threat for an increasing number of areas all over the world lal et al. Land degradation indicators and management options. Soil degradation is a critical and growing global problem, with implications for a number of key policy areas, including food security, climate change, flood risk management, drought tolerance, drinking water quality, agricultural resilience in the face of new crop diseases, biodiversity and future genetic resources. While there are many different factors that can cause soil erosion, most can be broken down into two main categories. Deforestation or destruction of forests accompanied by reduced frequency of rainfall leads to soil erosion and causes damage to agriculture property. The world is losing 10 ha of arable land each minute5 ha to soil erosion, 3 ha from salinity, and 2 ha by. As an example, compacted subsurface soil layers can decrease infiltration and increase runoff. It is estimated that nearly 2 billion ha of soil resources in the world have been degraded, namely approximately 22% of the total cropland, pasture, forest, and woodland.

In brief, many researches a nd studies in the world have investigated the causes of wetlands degradation and loss, such as 24 reported that the degradation and. Icse solutions for class 7 geography voyage weathering. Factors of land degradation are the biophysical processes and attributes that determine the kind of degradative processes, e. Components and processes of land degradation and recovery. Earths body of soil, called the pedosphere, has four important functions.

It causes a general depletion of the soil fertility and leads to decreased productivity. Watershed degradation is the loss of value over time, including the productive potential of land and water, accompanied by marked changes in the hydrological behaviour of a river system resulting in inferior quality, quantity and timing of waterflow the protection, improvement and rehabilitation of mountain andor upland watersheds are of critical importance in the. In brief, many researches a nd studies in the world have investigated the causes of wetlands degradation and loss, such as 24 reported that the degradation and loss of coastal wetlands is more. Although soil erosion is a natural occurrence on all land, there are certain factors that call accelerate erosion making it more noticeable and problematic. How to survive alone in the wilderness for 1 week eastern woodlands duration.

Nine main causes of land degradation are as follows. Soil erosion also refers to the loss of fertility of soil, which makes the soil infertile and exhausted. Killing soil organisms is a direct, main cause of soil degradation. This agricultural problem could detrimentally impact our food and water supplies as well as the general sustenance of life. Peatlands are important repositories of carbon, biodiversity, and. Deforestation causes fast degradation when the soil is steep sloppy or easily erodible. It affects soil quality for agriculture and has implications for the urban environment, pollution and flooding. It is viewed as any change or disturbance to the land perceived to be deleterious or undesirable. The four most common soil erosion prevention methods are vegetation, geotextiles, mulch, and retaining walls.

Although erosion happens naturally, human activities can make it much worse. Apr 20, 2016 soil degradation environment in eu at the turn of the century chapter 3. Explain how chemical fertilizers result in soil degradation. Must reduce overland flow and increase infiltration. Bare soil is easily swept away by wind and water, the.