SOIL DEGRADATION AND
DESERTIFICATION-A Challenge

By:ASHISH(2011A22BIV)
SOIL DEGRADATION
• Soil degradation is the decline in soil quality
caused by its improper use, usually for
agricultural, pastural, industrial or urban
purposes.
• The Decline in quantity and quality of soil It
includes Erosion by wind and water Biological
degradation (loss of humus) Physical
degradation (loss of structure, permeability,
compaction) Chemical degradation (reduced
fertility, salinisation , changing pH, toxicity)
SOIL DEGRADATION

DESERTIFICATION
If Degradation is so severe that land becomes
unusable it is termed desertification
DESERTIFICATION
• Desertification is a process of turning the
productive land into desert.
• A definition of desertification should recognize
that it is a land degradation process that
involves a continuum of change, from slight to
very severe degradation of the plant and soil
resource, and is due to man's activities.
• Desertification is also a situation on the desert
expansion. That means desert is continuously
expanding to the surrounding area.
Causes on desertification
desertification
Climatic
change

Human factors

High pop.

+

Poor / poverty

Impropriate
irrigation
-salinization

Over
grazing

deforest
ation

Global
warming

Over
cropping

↓ Soil fertility ,↓ soil degradation &↓ Soil aridity

Low Rainfall
Cause
Human factors:
High population

Deforestation---∵Demand more
land and timber for cropping & building,
cutting down to tree extensively.

Over cropping—-∵demand for food
crops↑ & the cash crops demanded ↑,
↑shifting cultivation, ↓soil fertility,
secondary growth
Cause
Impropriate irrigation:
infiltration >E underground water table
rises salinization
Climatic change

Global warmingCO2↑, T ↑, ice cap
melt, flooding in coastal area , ↓ rainfall,
drought , veg. die

Less rainfallDrought , veg. die.
“If the climatic factors are said to be the
main causes of desertification ,then
human activities are going to intensify it.”
Effects on desertification
desertification
Atmosphere

Hydrosphere

Lithosphere

Biosphere

-local climate

-water cycle

-loss of arable

breaks down

salinization

-extinction of
plants &
animals

↓R”
drought
-macro climate

-land intensify the
soil erosion

global warming

Upset the balance of ecosystem

-↓biodiversity
Effects
Effects
Lithosphere
1)loss of arable land
soil texture change to sandy  ↓cohesive power
(cannot hold water) not suitable for veg growth

2)intensify the soil erosion
1.↑ deforestationno root to bind the soil
 ↑ soil erosion↑ silting
Effects
Hydrosphere
1)Water cycle breaks down
∵↓Rainfall & ↑ evaporation(∵ no
shelter)
 rivers and wells dried up
Biosphere
1)lower the bio-diversity
↓R” & unevenly dis.+deforestation
scattered veg. (veg. Is shorter, few
species, less luxuriant)extinction
Effects
Others
1)lower the income
Rainfall ↓ crops productivity
↓,
2)use a large amt of capital for soil
protection & recovery
How to solve???
1.Control the pop. growth / natural increase
by using family planning, in order to
decrease the land use capacity
2.The number of grazing and the rate of
cultivation should not over the carrying
capacity of land
How to solve???
3. Improve i)farming & ii)grazing methods,
in other to reduce soil erosion and
salinization
i) suitable timing and amount to carry out irrigation
plant the halophytes (which can adapt salty &
droughted soil) e.g, Chenopodiaceae
ii)sufficient fallowing period
How to solve???
4.Legislation: band the deforestation and over
grazing, etc. , in order to balance the ecosystem
of desert.
5.afforestation i.e. plant the wind break trees &
drought resistant plants
6.stone lines
7. Building reservoir and canal , (e.g, The Indira
Gandhi Canal)
 Soil degradation and desertification Ashish(2011A22BIV)

Soil degradation and desertification Ashish(2011A22BIV)

  • 1.
    SOIL DEGRADATION AND DESERTIFICATION-AChallenge By:ASHISH(2011A22BIV)
  • 2.
    SOIL DEGRADATION • Soildegradation is the decline in soil quality caused by its improper use, usually for agricultural, pastural, industrial or urban purposes. • The Decline in quantity and quality of soil It includes Erosion by wind and water Biological degradation (loss of humus) Physical degradation (loss of structure, permeability, compaction) Chemical degradation (reduced fertility, salinisation , changing pH, toxicity)
  • 3.
    SOIL DEGRADATION DESERTIFICATION If Degradationis so severe that land becomes unusable it is termed desertification
  • 4.
    DESERTIFICATION • Desertification isa process of turning the productive land into desert. • A definition of desertification should recognize that it is a land degradation process that involves a continuum of change, from slight to very severe degradation of the plant and soil resource, and is due to man's activities. • Desertification is also a situation on the desert expansion. That means desert is continuously expanding to the surrounding area.
  • 5.
    Causes on desertification desertification Climatic change Humanfactors High pop. + Poor / poverty Impropriate irrigation -salinization Over grazing deforest ation Global warming Over cropping ↓ Soil fertility ,↓ soil degradation &↓ Soil aridity Low Rainfall
  • 6.
    Cause Human factors: High population Deforestation---∵Demandmore land and timber for cropping & building, cutting down to tree extensively. Over cropping—-∵demand for food crops↑ & the cash crops demanded ↑, ↑shifting cultivation, ↓soil fertility, secondary growth
  • 7.
    Cause Impropriate irrigation: infiltration >Eunderground water table rises salinization Climatic change Global warmingCO2↑, T ↑, ice cap melt, flooding in coastal area , ↓ rainfall, drought , veg. die Less rainfallDrought , veg. die.
  • 8.
    “If the climaticfactors are said to be the main causes of desertification ,then human activities are going to intensify it.”
  • 9.
    Effects on desertification desertification Atmosphere Hydrosphere Lithosphere Biosphere -localclimate -water cycle -loss of arable breaks down salinization -extinction of plants & animals ↓R” drought -macro climate -land intensify the soil erosion global warming Upset the balance of ecosystem -↓biodiversity
  • 11.
  • 12.
    Effects Lithosphere 1)loss of arableland soil texture change to sandy  ↓cohesive power (cannot hold water) not suitable for veg growth 2)intensify the soil erosion 1.↑ deforestationno root to bind the soil  ↑ soil erosion↑ silting
  • 13.
    Effects Hydrosphere 1)Water cycle breaksdown ∵↓Rainfall & ↑ evaporation(∵ no shelter)  rivers and wells dried up Biosphere 1)lower the bio-diversity ↓R” & unevenly dis.+deforestation scattered veg. (veg. Is shorter, few species, less luxuriant)extinction
  • 14.
    Effects Others 1)lower the income Rainfall↓ crops productivity ↓, 2)use a large amt of capital for soil protection & recovery
  • 15.
    How to solve??? 1.Controlthe pop. growth / natural increase by using family planning, in order to decrease the land use capacity 2.The number of grazing and the rate of cultivation should not over the carrying capacity of land
  • 16.
    How to solve??? 3.Improve i)farming & ii)grazing methods, in other to reduce soil erosion and salinization i) suitable timing and amount to carry out irrigation plant the halophytes (which can adapt salty & droughted soil) e.g, Chenopodiaceae ii)sufficient fallowing period
  • 17.
    How to solve??? 4.Legislation:band the deforestation and over grazing, etc. , in order to balance the ecosystem of desert. 5.afforestation i.e. plant the wind break trees & drought resistant plants 6.stone lines 7. Building reservoir and canal , (e.g, The Indira Gandhi Canal)