Super Eco

Soil erosion, the removal of soil by the action of wind or water, is a natural process. Background, or "natural erosion," removes soil at about the same rate that soil is formed. "Accelerated erosion" is the result of poor land use practices. When the land has lost the protection of plants which normally stabilize the soil, it becomes vulnerable to accelerated erosion.

Among the reasons for this loss of soil at a far greater rate than it is being formed are: overgrazing, deforestation, slash and burn agriculture, and tillage. Worldwide, five times as much water is found captured in soil as in the atmosphere. The degradation of the soil through erosion releases some of this water to evaporation increasing water vapor in the atmosphere and contributing to climate change, heavier rainfall and further erosion by water. Soil erosion is a top cause of surface water pollution. Soil washed off the land enters the rivers and streams and fine particles of silt cloud once clear rivers. Agrichemicals and fertilizers generally accompany the run-off as well, introducing poisons and excessive nutrients to the surface waters.

When plants covering semi-arid or arid soil die, their roots no longer hold the soil in place. The result is wind erosion. Wind erosion results in further drying of the soil, loss of soil particles, and air pollution. Ultimately it leads to desertification.

Both wind and water erosion can be controlled. Among the many wind erosion control measures are planting windbreaks and cover crops. No till farming, contour plowing, terracing, and reforestation are among the ways that water erosion can be controlled.  

(Photo credit: Soil-science.info, Flickr)