3. SOIL EROSION
The process of eroding or being eroded by wind,
water, or other natural agents.
In earth science, erosion is the action of surface
processes that removes soil, rock, or dissolved
material from one location on the Earth's crust,
and then transports it to another location
6. CAUSES OF SOIL
EROSION
• Deforestation:
Cutting down of trees without
planting new ones is called
deforestation. Trees and plant
act as a anchor and holds soil
in place. When there are
insufficient trees an plants on
surface then soil become lose
and rapidly moves away with
wind, water and glacial till.
7. CAUSES OF SOIL
EROSION
• Running water
Water can be an extremely effective
erosional agent, especially when it
pours down as rainfall and forms
water runoffs along flowing paths.
Rainfall begins its erosional process,
since the very first time raindrops
hit the surface of the ground. The
impact of the raindrops hitting the
ground dislodge small particles of
soil and rock, carrying them away
on flowing streams of water
8. CAUSES OF SOIL
EROSION
• Overgrazing
Overgrazing is one of
the causes for erosion. Overgrazin
g reduces the usefulness,
productivity of the land. The
livestock press the subsoil into
fine soil which can be carried
easily by wind and water.
Reduced soil depth, soil organic
matter, and soil fertility affects the
land's future productivity.
9. CAUSES OF SOIL
EROSION
• Faulty method of
agriculture
The most outstanding are
wrong ploughing, lack of crop
rotation and practice of shifting
cultivation. If the fields are
ploughed along the slope,
there is no obstruction to the
flow of water and the water
washes away the top soil easily.
10. CAUSES OF SOIL
EROSION
• Over irrigation
Soil erosion is generally greater
from surface irrigation because
water flows over the soil
during irrigation. Surface
irrigation management is often a
tradeoff be-
tween irrigation uniformity
and erosion. High flow rates
can cause erosion; low flow rates
can cause poor irrigation
uniformty.
11. CAUSES OF SOIL
EROSION
• Wind
Wind erosion canbe caused by a
light wind that rolls soil particles
along the surface through to
astrong wind that lifts a large
volume of soil particles into the
air to create dust storms
12. EFFECTS OF
SOIL EROSION
Loss of Arable Land
Water Pollution and Clogging of Waterways
Sedimentation and Threat to Aquatic Systems
Air Pollution
Destruction of Infrastructure
Desertification
13. EFFECTS OF
SOIL
EROSION
• Loss o Arable land
Lands used for crop production have been
substantially affected by soil erosion. Soil erosion
eats away the top soil which is the fertile layer of
the land and also the component that supports the
soil’s essential microorganisms and organic matter.
• Water Pollution and Clogging of Waterways
Soils eroded from agricultural lands carry
pesticides, heavy metals, and fertilizers which are
washed into streams and major water ways. This
leads to water pollution and damage to marine
and freshwater habitats.
14. EFFECTS OF
SOIL
EROSION
• Sedimentation and Threat to Aquatic
Systems
High soil sedimentation can be catastrophic to the
survival of aquatic life forms. Silt can smother the
breeding grounds of fish and equally lessens their
food supply since the siltation reduces the
biodiversity of algal life and beneficial aquatic
plants. Sediments may also enter the fish gills,
affecting their respiratory functions.
• Air Pollution
Wind erosion picks up dust particles of the soil
and throws them into the air, causing air pollution.
Some of the dust particles may contain harmful
and toxic particles such as petroleum and
pesticides that can pose a severe health hazard
when inhaled or ingested
15. EFFECTS OF
SOIL
EROSION
• Destruction of Infrastructure
Soil erosion can affect infrastructural projects such as dams,
drainages, and embankments. The accumulation of soil
sediments in dams/drainages and along embankments can
reduce their operational lifetime and efficiency. Also, the silt
up can support plant life that can, in turn, cause cracks and
weaken the structures. Soil erosion from surface water runoff
often causes serious damage to roads and tracks, especially
if stabilizing techniques are not used.
• Desertification
Soil erosion is a major driver of desertification. It gradually
transforms a habitable land and the ASAL regions into
deserts. The transformations are worsened by the destructive
use of the land and deforestation that leaves the soil naked
and open to erosion. This usually leads to loss of
biodiversity, alteration of ecosystems, land degradation, and
huge economic losses.
17. TYPES OF SOIL
EROSION
• Wind Erosion
Wind erosion is the removal soil
particles by the force and kinetic
energy of the wind. These soil
particles are transported and
deposited when the wind energy
drops.
18. TYPES OF
SOIL
EROSION
• Cause of wind erosion
Wind erosion can happen anywhere and any time
the wind blows. Wind erosion can occur in any area
where the soil or sand is not compacted or is of a finely
granulated nature. Not only does wind erosion damage
the land by drying out soil and reducing the nutrients of
the land, it can also cause air pollution
• Effects of Wind Erosion
i. Reduce capacity of soil to store nutrients
ii. Burry oasis and forms sand dunes
iii. Covers crops by sand and damage them
iv. Can move fertile soil away from desire area.
19. TYPES OF SOIL
EROSION
• Water Erosion
Water erosion is caused by the
kinetic energy of rain falling on
the soil surface and by the
mechanical force of runoff
20. TYPES OF
SOIL
EROSION
• Cause of Water Erosion
Infiltration, surface detention, overland flow velocity, and
subsurface water flow are important soil erosion
components of the hydrological cycle. The different types
of flow and their velocities may be turbulent or laminar,
steady or unsteady, uniform or non-uniform and influence
the extent of erosion
• Effect of Water Erosion
When rain water falls it causes soil or water erosion.
Rainwater sweeps away the topsoil, which exposes the
layers beneath it to the natural elements, and increases
carbon dioxide release. This is a slow process that develops
over time and is not always harmful to ecosystems.
However, the process can happen very quickly and cause
negative effects on various aspects of the ecosystem.
