The Soil Erosion Problem and How To Solve It

Soil erosion is a natural process. The topsoil, also known as the upper-most layer of the ground, is continuously damaged, repaired and moved from one spot to another. This naturally occurring phenomenon has an important role in replenishing the nutrients, thus providing a better environment for all forms of life.

The topsoil, which is often affected by erosion, is the most important layer of ground. This layer has the highest organic matter percentage and is best suited for farming activities. In short, the topsoil is the most fertile layer of ground, making it crucially important for the economy. Consequently, soil erosion has a tremendous impact on agricultural land, affecting millions of farmers across the globe. In other words, soil erosion is a slow, naturally occurring process that refers to the loss of topsoil, usually by wind or water action. Soil erosion control tries to prevent this phenomenon and repair its effects.

Agriculture is another major factor causing soil erosion. During farming activities, the top layer is exposed, blown or washed away by rain. Over the years, this movement of the detached topsoil can cause a lot of damage, reducing fertility and destroying the natural chemical properties of the top layer.

According to top erosion product distributors, soil erosion can be broken down into three main parts:

Detachment – this is the first process behind soil erosion: during this stage, the topsoil is detached from the ground

Movement – after detachment, the topsoil is moved to another area, usually by water or wind

deposition – this is the final stage – the location where the topsoil ends up

Major causes of soil erosion

There are two major factors that cause soil erosion: natural factors and anthropological factors (caused by human activity). While soil erosion is a naturally occurring phenomenon, human activity is also a major factor, multiplying its negative effects. Here are some of the major causes of soil erosion:

Rain and rainwater runoff – soil erosion is very common during and after any heavy rain; water damages the soil, breaking it up and dispersing the materials it is made of; rainwater runoff often impact lighter particles, like sand, organic matter or silt; of course, during heavy rains, even the larger components may be damaged or broken up;

Wind – wind is a major factor in reducing soil quality; this is especially true if the soil is already low quality and it has been eroded by water; even lighter winds can damage this soil, particularly if there is little vegetation; sandy and lighter soils are very susceptible to wind; in some cases, powerful winds can transport small and even large particles across great distances;

The slope of the land – the shape of the land can cause soil erosion; for instance, a sloping hill is prone to erosion caused by rainwater or runoff saturation, amplified by the rapid movement of water down the slope;

Farming – agricultural activity is one of the major causes of soil erosion; when the land is worked through crops or other agricultural processes, the topsoil is affected, reducing its amount of organic matter; this makes it prone to soil erosion caused by wind and water; for instance, tilling breaks up and softens the natural structure of the soil, increasing erosion; soil erosion control is very important for agricultural fields and farming practices that don't include tilling are recommended, especially for poor quality soils;

lack of vegetation – plants act as important soil erosion control elements; they maintain the natural structure of soils, reducing the erosion; lack of vegetation is a major contributor to soil erosion;

Effects of soil erosion

While soil erosion is usually defined as a slow process, it can also occur quickly, with devastating effects. This often happens during major weather or climate events. Severe weather occurrences cause major damages to the soil over large swathes of land and recovery strategies must be implemented as soon as possible. However, if major climate events do not occur, soil erosion can go unnoticed and has minimal effects on soils. Here are the most important effects of soil erosion:

loss of topsoil – this is the most important negative effect of soil erosion; topsoil is very fertile and losing it can cause immense economic problems;

Soil compaction – if the soil is too stiff or hard, water cannot penetrate it, so plants cannot grow properly; what's more, because the water cannot infiltrate the lower layers, the runoff will be more common, increasing soil erosion even more;

Reduced organic matter – removing the topsoil also means removing the organic matter, which is the main factor behind fertility; when there is not enough organic matter in the soil, the plants cannot grow properly;

Soil acidity – when the organic matter is reduced, the acidity of the soil can increase dramatically, affecting plant growth and regeneration;

long term erosion – already eroded soils are very difficult to repair and recover; if this process is done as soon as possible, long term erosion can occur; this means lower fertility, less productivity and many other concerns;

Soil erosion – the solutions

Here are some of the most important ways to combat soil erosion:

Careful tilling – as described above, tilling affects the soil, promoting soil erosion; less tilling, with fewer passes will preserve the sensitive topsoil;

Crop-rotation – this method allows the soil to regain its organic matter, increasing productivity and reducing the effects of soil erosion;

Structure for plants – terraces and stabilizing elements help keep the topsoil in place; the plants will grow faster, helping stabilize the soil; the erosion will be minimal and the plants will grow better; your erosion product distributor will help you with more information about terraces and stabilizing elements;

Water control – this is applicable for areas where water is the main erosion factor; building specialized chutes or pipes to direct water is very important; this will help direct water away from the susceptible topsoil; this also helps if you want to reduce pollution; contact your erosion product distributor for more information and guidance;