Apr 30, 2019 soil erosion and nutrient depletion have been the major challenges in ethiopia that adversely affect soil fertility and crop productivity. Impact of physical soil and water conservation structure. Results on the effect of land use of soil fertility parameters are presented on table 3, table 4. In the last two decades, various soil and water conservation interventions had been introduced in to different parts of ethiopia. Shifting cultivation causes a high national waste as it converts the green land into a barren land. Dec 10, 2017 this method is responsible for reducing the soil fertility of crops as the land is abandoned when the soil is exhausted. The velocity and quantity of runoff and the effect of erosion were reduced, so erosion. Soil erosion and the effects of soil erosion on crop productivity have become emotional issues and have attracted the attention of agriculturists, environmentalists, and the public in general. Erosion is a continual, natural process occurring in all regions of earth. Wind erosion is very selective, carrying the finest particles particularly organic matter, clay and loam many kilometres. Pdf coastal erosion phenomenal in the east coast of peninsular malaysia is getting worse for the past few years. Land degradation, soil erosion and soil conservation pmf ias. An assessment of the global impact of 21st century land.
Soil deterioration and low water quality due to erosion and surface runoff have become severe problems worldwide. Pdf effects of land use change on land degradation. Pdf the impact of soil erosion on soil fertility and vine vigor. Fortunately, there are well proven solutions to minimize soil erosion. With the growth of population in the coastal zone, more competing pressures are being put on the shores and beaches.
Soil erosion can also lead to mudslides and floods, negatively affecting the structural integrity of buildings and roadways. The soil and water conservation effects and key issues. The buildup of this alluvial matter stripped by the wind from the periglacial steppes gave rise. It is one of the processes leading to desertification. One third of the worlds agricultural soils, or roughly 2 billion hectares of land, was reported as being affected by soil. The degree to which this happens depends on the size and speed of the falling raindrops.
Aug 24, 2018 effects of soil erosion on the environment. Water erosion the widespread occurrence of water erosion combined with the severity of onsite and offsite. The problem may become so severe that the land can no longer be cultivated and must be abandoned. Magnitude and the impacts of soil erosion on productivity depend on soil. Low organic matter and low fertility limit crop production. The land takes many years to replenish just at the cost of providing yield for 2 to 3 years. Apr 21, 2017 and all losses have a soil fertility impact in some cases, it is greater than we might think.
Intensive agricultural land use can have detrimental effects on landscape properties, greatly accelerating soil erosion, with consequent fertility loss and reduced agricultural potential. Understanding the impact of erosion on soil productivity means knowing the characteristics of your soils. Because herbicides interact with soils, their performance varies with soil organic mat. Australia naturally suffers from wind erosion due to lack of vegetation and wind breaks. An assessment of the global impact of 21st century land use. Human activity and related land use change are the primary cause of soil erosion. The addition of manure and fertilizer can supply needed crop nutrients and help offset some loss of inherent fertility caused by soil erosion. Soil erosion is the most serious precursor of soil degradation that comes with global implications.
The effect of accelerated soil erosion on hillslope. Land degradation can be viewed as any change or disturbance to the land perceived to be deleterious or undesirable eswaran, 2001. In an experiment at lexington, moderate erosion caused the corn yields of a maury soil to be reduced from 99 to 87 bushels per acre. The impact of soil erosion on soil fertility and vine. Organic matter plays a key role in maintaining soil fertility. Although soil erosion could be considered a positive process for co 2 reduction, in agricultural land it has a negative impact on ecosystem services, considering that fertile soils are degraded and the effects of dissolved organic carbon dynamics in the aquatic environment whitehead et al. Secondly,on fertile soils, land degradation is largely compensated by fertiliser application. In summary, preventing soil erosion means preserving inherent soil fertility and minimizing fertilizer and management inputs. Effects of soil erosion on soil properties as related to. Land degradation is a major concern in ethiopia since it leads to declining agricultural productivity, poverty and food insecurity. Abstract food security depends on sustainable agriculture. Little or no mixing of the subsoil with the plow layer. However, the negative effect of land erosion on transaction prices is only evident when the ratio of the propertys distance from the shore to the rate of erosion is sufficiently low.
Erosion and sedimentation on construction sites introduction soil is a crucial component of rural and urban environments, and in both places land management is the key to soil quality. It encompasses physical soil erosion, chemical salinity and alkalinity, pollution and biological deterioration pollution and. Although soil erosion has been taking place very slowly in natural ecosystems throughout geologic time, its cumulative impacts on soil quality over billions of years has been signi. The effects of erosion are varied, but the most obvious effect is the removal and destruction of land. Effects of soil erosion on soil properties as related to crop. It is reported that the annual loss of fertility by erosion is 20 times. The erosion had taken place 60 years prior to the study and the soil was in a very high fertility state, indicating that the effects of erosion are longlasting. The effect of land use change on soil fertility parameters in. Soil erosion reduces cropland productivity and contributes to the pollution of adjacent watercourses, wetlands and lakes. Effects of erosion control practices on nutrient loss. Therefore, the effects of erosion in vineyards should be evaluated not only on grape yield, but also on plant fertility and vigor, which are the key indicators of final wine quality wezel et al.
Major factors in land degradation which contribute to damaging the soil plant system are soil erosion, salt affectedness, decline in soil fertility and soil heavy metals contamination. When raindrops reach the soil, they detach soil particles. Coastal erosion pdf causes,impact,mitigation measures the shorelines and beaches in india serve multidimensional needs such as recreational purpose, seaport for maritime commerce, residential and commercial structures, etc. Topsoil, which is rich in organic matter, high fertility and soil life, is. Soil erosion is the loss of soil from the land surface due to gravity, wind, water or ice. Its effects can be seen directly in the location where erosion takes place, known as onsite effects, and at the site where the eroded soil deposits offsite. These impacts include compaction, loss of soil structure, nutrient degradation, and soil salinity. The detached soil particles are subsequently transported by overland water flow. Losing topsoil to erosion contributes to a loss of inherent soil fertility levels of nitrogen, p, k, and thus to a decline in potential crop yield. Advice on reducing soil erosion in arable fields farmers. Effects of swc practices and soil fertility management on rain water productivity of maize hybrid tertius e.
Topsoil, which is high in organic matter, fertility and soil life, is relocated elsewhere onsite. The effects of soil erosion go beyond the loss of fertile land. We use the soil erosion function to model the equation of motion for soil depth, xt. If erosion is nonuniform, the applica tion rate is more appropriate for some areas than others optimal production is impossible for all areas. Our results suggest that the rate of land erosion negatively affects coastal residential property values. The loss of soil from the land surface can be detrimental to both terrestrial and aquatic environments by depleting nutrients, increasing runoff and affecting aquatic life. Land management and the related land use changes have an effect on the spatial patterns and magnitude of accelerated soil erosion which can affect land productivity and food security 12,18. Pdf soil erosion processes in vineyards, beyond surface runoff and sediment transport, have a strong effect on soil organic carbon soc. The majority of organic matter, approximately 50 percent of plant. Soil fertility is vital to a productive soil, but a fertile soil is not necessarily a productive soil. What is soil erosion and what are the effects of soil erosion. Soil erosion and land degradation in ethiopia land degradation results primarily from incorrect land use and bad land management blum et al. Soil erosion is a natural process that can be slow and continue virtually unnoticed or may occur at an alarming rate and involve huge amounts of soil being lost from fields. Wind erosion is a common cause of land degradation in the arid and semi arid grazing lands of inland queensland.
Soil erosion is the process whereby the topsoil of a field or land is gradually eroded or washed away by things such as wind and water. In addition to erosion, soil quality is affected by other aspects of agriculture. Restoring soil quality to mitigate soil degradation mdpi. Effects of soil erosion on soil properties as related to crop productivity and classification w. The topsoil erodes when the force of the wind or water forces soil particles to move from one piece of land and get deposited in another piece of land. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the effects of soil and topographic factors on vegetation restoration to improve the fragile ecosystems of damaged land. A dynamic model that explicitly addresses soil erosion and fertility mining is important for designing land management and improvement policies in ssa. Water is also able to erode land by the effects of currents and ocean waves. Soil erosion can be a slow process that continues relatively unnoticed or can occur at an alarming rate, causing serious loss of topsoil. Major causes and effects of soil erosion on the environment. Causes, effects and types of erosion water, wind, glacier. Advancing food security and environmental sustainability in farming systems requires an integrated soil fertility management approach that maximizes crop production while minimizing the mining of soil nutrient reserves and the degradation of the physical and chemical properties of soil that can lead to land degradation, including soil erosion.
A crider soil at princeton, kentucky, which is naturally low in fertility, was studied to determine the effect of moderate erosion. To quantify the effects of such erosional processes on hillslope morphology and gain insight into the underlying dynamics, we use a twofold approach. Soil degradation is one of the crucial issues in mountainous areas of ethiopia which needs efforts to reduce it. And all losses have a soil fertility impact in some cases, it is greater than we might think. On site erosion affects individuals and is often viewed fatalistically, whereas the downstream damage disturbs groups who have access to public opinion and the media, and who can organize protests against those responsible. Land erosion is the process by which material on the surface of the land is dislodged and moved. Soil erosion, and soil fertility mining, the practice of growing crops with insufficient replacement of nutrients taken up by the crops, are among the major factors. Impacts of soil and water conservation practices on soil. Significant wind erosion occurs when strong winds blow over lighttextured soils that have been heavily grazed during periods of drought. This study examines the cumulative effect of erosion on soil properties that are impor. Research methods were questionnaire and direct observation. The population of the world is dependent on land resource for food and other necessities.
Soil erosion is an ongoing process that affects each site in a slightly different way. This factsheet looks at the causes and effects of water, wind and tillage erosion on agricultural land. Nitrogen can also be lost from the soil as a gas by the process of denitrification. A permanent plant cover of over 50%, in the form of vegetation or ground litter, provides a cushion between raindrops and the soil, preventing the splash effect or. Here, the authors show the impacts of 21st century global land use change on soil erosion based on an. Soil erosion is the weathering away of topsoil caused by water, wind or tillage. Effects of soil and topographic factors on vegetation. This series of technical notes examines the urban activities causing soil degradation and sedimentation, and the management practices that protect the functions. The results of the study indicated that the effects of soil erosion and deforestation on land productively, agriculture and livestock. Soil fertility decline environment, land and water. Soil degradation is a serious global environmental problem and may be exacerbated by climate change. The most visible effect of topsoil topsoil erosion is the decreasing crop yields. The thin layer of topsoil, that we walk on and through which plants send their roots, is the result of enduring, ageold processes of decomposition, transformation and accretion through countless organisms. Along with the adverse effects of soil erosion and other degradation.
Impacts of land use and cover type on runoff and soil. Between 1982 and 2003, total soil erosion dropped from an estimate of over 3 billion tons per year to 1. Nearly 10 million hectares of arable land are lost to erosion and other forms of soil degradation every year 1. First, land degradation has its major impact on soils of lower fertility, where population levels are low. Erosion is responsible for soil nutrient losses and negative effects on plant nutrition. Land erosion is one of the most significant forms of land. Land erosion becomes a water quality stressor when the transported materials reach surface waters. Sustainability hinges on the efficient and judicious use of land and soil resources. To understand wind erosion and its control, we need to understand the processes involved. In the iowa cooperative soil survey program, erosion classes are defined quantitatively. Effects of swc practices and soil fertility management on. Soil erosion is the displacement of the upper layer of soil, it is one form of soil degradation. Most of the farmers perceived the positive impact of swc structure on their farm land. A by the national soil erosion soil productivity research planning committee, science and education administration ag ricu i t ural research ccurate estimates of future soil a productivity are essential to make agricultural policy decisions and to plan the use of land from the field scale to.
Effect of soil and water conservation measures on land. It holds nitrogen and sulfur in organic forms and other essential nutrients such as potassium and calcium. Whether caused by wind or water, erosion leads to the displacement of soil, rocks, plants and seeds. Of course, when the most fertile topsoil is lost, the value is even greater. Information about soil profile characteristics is available in every county soil survey report. Soil degradation is a global environmental problem which started since the innovation of agriculture by human kind. Once the eroded particles as a result of ocean currents and waves are settled and deposited, they enormously change the coastline of the area. Degraded agricultural land the productivity of some land in calabar south has declined by 60 percent as a result of soil erosion and nutrient loss bruinsma, 2003. Repeated erosion reduces water infiltration into the soil, which may result to.
Although the site had been highly fertilized for years, erosion caused a difference in the fertility status of the soil table 1. Effects of land use change on land degradation reflected by soil properties along mara river, kenya and tanzania article pdf available in open journal of soil science 0501. Recommendations based on the research affirm the necessity to undertake largescale natural. Soil erosion effects on soil productivity southwest watershed. Effects of erosion control practices on nutrient loss george f. This research investigated the effects of swc practices on soil properties and crop productivity in cultivated. The top soil is loaded with nutrients and organic matter critical for crop growth.
Below are some of the major effects of soil erosion on the soil. A moving mass of water will quickly wear away topsoil as it moves over a piece of land. Despite these negative effects, the conversion of arable land into extensive grassland had a strong, positive effect on surface runoff and erosion in the area monitored. The soil and water conservation effects and key issues of protective cultivation in the loess plateau hao mingde1. Total soil erosion on all cropland and land in crp declined since 1982 as well. May 01, 2019 land degradation soil degradation is the decline in soil quality caused by its improper use, usually for agricultural, pastoral, industrial or urban purposes. An investigation of the soil, topography and vegetation in 50 reclamation sample plots in shanxi pingshuo antaibao opencast coal mine dumps was performed. Effects of wind erosion the first effect is the winnowing of light particles. This study sought to assess the effect of tillage practices on the fertility. Effect of soil and water conservation for soil fertility. This study sought to assess the effect of tillage practices on the fertility of the soil. Finally,most people can be found on the slope facing a deep and dangerous precipice.
Soil erosion makes it more difficult for the soil to store water and support plant. Soil erosion is a gradual process that occurs when the impact of water or wind detaches and removes soil particles, causing the soil to deteriorate. With the aim of curbing land degradation problems, efforts are underway on the implementation of soil and water conservation swc practices. Costshare opportunities, such as the canadian agricultural partnership, can help you get started to put practices in place to minimize erosion and fertility losses from your fields. Soil erosion can deplete the fertility of the soil thereby making the soil unsuitable for the growing of crops and. The last two columns of table 3 show the percentage changes in soil fertility parameters as a result of 1 conversion of undisturbed land into crop land and 2 conversion of crop land into long term fallows. A case study of calabar south, nigeria 23 figure 2. Pesticides and other chemicals can get trapped in soil, polluting streams and rivers as the soil breaks apart. If the soil is naturally low in fertility, then erosion will cause a loss of the added nutrients and increase the fertility requirements of the soil. The map of the study area is presented on the next page. The productivity of some land in calabar south has declined by 60 percent as a result of soil erosion and nutrient loss bruinsma, 2003. Causes and impacts of land degradation and desertification.
Soil fertility and erosion one handful of healthy soil contains more microorganisms than there are people living on earth. Extensive erosion also minimizes the depth of soil available for water storage and rooting. Wind erosion is one of the most concerning factors in australias land degradation problems due to the vast size of australia and the vast amount of soil exposed to the elements. Presently, reduction of land in calabar due to past soil erosion range from 5579% percent with a mean loss of 67%. Onsite erosion affects individuals and is often viewed fatalistically, whereas the downstream damage disturbs groups who have access to public opinion and the media, and who can organize protests against those responsible. This natural process is caused by the dynamic activity of erosive agents, that is, water, ice glaciers, snow, air wind, plants, animals, and humans. Impact of physical soil and water conservation structure on. With soil erosion rates so much higher than the replenishment rate, it is no wonder that the world is quickly running out of fertile topsoil. The land affected due to water erosion is estimated to 11 million km2 2while that due to wind erosion is 5. Terracing is an option for controlling erosion on sloped land by cutting in flat surfaces. Given the impact of organic matter, phosphorus and potassium on yield potential, soil erosion can be costly.
68 960 673 768 724 896 1533 865 206 1252 524 1523 804 475 930 896 1571 600 1482 1506 1409 169 1180 735 1057 179 1033 505 732 542 410 663 1054 1274 1124 530 13 1117 51