Soil erosion occurs through water and wind carrying away topsoil. This is harmful because it removes nutrients needed for plant growth. Factors that increase erosion include removal of vegetation, plowing, overgrazing, construction, and mining. Erosion can be reduced through techniques like no-till farming, contour plowing, terracing, and replanting vegetation on disturbed land. Preventing excessive erosion is important for maintaining fertile soils and limiting environmental damage.

1. Soil ErosionChapter 7 Section 3

2. I. Soil: An Important ResourceErosionThe process of carrying away sediment from one place to another. Soil Erosion is harmful because plants do not grow well when topsoil has been removed.

3. II. Causes and Effects of Soil ErosionWater or Wind ErosionErosion occurs as water flows over Earth’s surface or when wind picks up and transports sediments. Erosion is generally more severe on steep slopes than on gentle slopes. Erosion is more severe in areas where there is little vegetation.

4. II. Causes and Effects of Soil ErosionA. Water or Wind ErosionTrees protect the soil from erosion; when forest is removed, soil erodes rapidly.Under normal conditions soil erosion occurs at the same rate as soil production. Humans sometimes cause erosion to occur faster than new soil can form. When people remove ground cover erosion increases.

5. B. Agriculture CultivationTopsoil contains many nutrients, holds water, and has a porous structure that is good for plant growth. If topsoil erodes rapidly, the nutrient balance might be negative. Fertilizer may be needed to compensate for nutrient loss. The remaining soil might not have the same open structure and water holding ability that topsoil does. Plowing is the mechanical turning and loosening of the soil. Plowing increases the rate of erosion because the soil can now be moved more easily.

6. C. Forest HarvestingWhen forests are removed, soil is exposed and erosion increases. Creates problems, especially in tropical regions. Soils in tropical rain forests appear rich in nutrients but are almost infertile below the first few centimeters. Soil is only useful to farmers for a few years. Farmers/lumber jacks then clear new land, repeating the process and increasing the damage to the soil.

7. D. OvergrazingIncreases soil erosion.In some arid regions of the world, sheep and cattle raised for food are grazed on grasses until almost no ground cover remains to protect the soil. In these regions plants grow back slowly because they receive little rain. Without protection the soil is carried away by wind, and the moisture in the soil evaporates.

8. E. Excess SedimentIf soil erosion is severe, sediment can damage the environment. Severe erosion occurs where land is exposed. Examples: Strip Mined AreasConstruction SitesEroded soil is moved to a new location where it is deposited. If the sediment is deposited in a stream the stream channel might fill

9. III. Preventing Soil ErosionManage CropsFarmers work to slow soil erosion. Plant shelter belts of trees to break the force of the wind. Plant crops to cover the ground after the main harvest. In dry areas instead of plowing under crops, many farmers graze animals on the vegetation.

10. A. Manage CropsNo-Till FarmingUsually famers till or plow their fields one or more times each year. Using no-till farming farmers leave plant stalks in the field over the winter months. Seed crops without destroying stalks and without plowing the soil. Provides year-round cover for the soil, which reduces water runoff and soil erosion.

11. A. Manage CropsChisel PlowingInstead of turning over a complete field, chisel plows cut small furrows between previously planted and harvested cropsPrevious crop roots hold soil, decaying plants fertilize the soilNewly loosened area is planted

12. A. Manage CropsCover CroppingFarmers plant two crops that can grow together, harvest one & leave the other to continue growingEx: Grains with GrassesGrains get combined off in early summer,Grasses continue to grow and can be cut as hay

13. B. Reduce Erosion on SlopesOn gentle slopes, planting along the natural contours of the land, called contour farming, reduces soil erosion. This practice slows the flow of water down slopes and helps prevent the formation of gullies.

14. B. Reduce Erosion on SlopesWhere slopes are steep, terracing often is used. Terracing is a method in which steep sided, level topped areas are built onto the sides of steep hills and mountains so that cops can be grown. These terraces reduce runoff by creating flat areas and shorter sections of slope. Terracing has been used in the Philippines, Japan, China, and Peru for centuries.

15. C. Reduce Erosion of Exposed SoilVariety of methods used to control erosion of exposed soil. During construction water is sometimes sprayed onto bare soil to prevent erosion by wind. When construction is complete topsoil is added and trees are planted. At strip mines, water flow can be controlled so that most of the eroded soil is kept from leaving the mine. After mining is complete the land is reclaimed . This means that steep slopes are flattened and vegetation is planted.