Erosion is the washing away or wearing of the top soil and sub-soil from land either by water or wind.
Process of Soil Erosion
-Detachment is when the top soil is actually detached from the rest of the soil.
-Movement is when the top soil is transported to another area.
-Deposition is where the top soil ends or deposited.
CAUSES OF SOIL EROSION
-Overgrazing of the grasses or plants of a particular area( using animals to eat up the plant)
-Bush burning setting bush into fire.)
-Deforestation (cutting down of trees).
-Building and construction work
-Some wrong method of agricultural practices (farming)
-some other human activities such as oil spillage and mining activities.
Ways of Controlling or Preventing Erosion
-Mulching (using plant materials to cover heaps or soil surface)
-Avoid overgrazing.
Avoid bush burning
-By organizing public education awareness.
-Through afforestation programs (tree planting).
-By planting of cover crops which help to cover the soil to the soil from being exposed to the agent of erosion.
-By making terracing and contour across erosion area.
Effects of Soil Erosion
-It can lead to water pollution.
-It can cause the soil to its fertility
-It can increase soil acidity which will affect the well
being of the plant.
See also