Soil Erosion

Charity I. Mulig

Soil erosion is the ultimate fate of practically all soils. But soil erosion proceeds at a faster rate now than before.

In many regions, soil erosion is faster than soil formation… thus a renewable resource is becoming non-renewable.

Types of Soil Erosion

1. Sheet/Unconfined Soil Erosion2. Confined Soil Erosion

– Rills– Gullies– streams

Rates of Soil Erosion

1. By Water– Before the appearance of humans 9B netric tns

of soil are transported by rivers to the sea…now 24B metric tons.

2. By Wind– Difficult to measure or estimate.

Problems Associated to Erosion

1. Sedimentation2. Chemical Pollution3. Clogging and Flooding4. Algal Bloom5. Agricultural Problems

Controlling Soil Erosion

• Planting rows of trees called windbreaks

• Terracing hillsides• Plowing along the contours of hills• Rotating crops

Positive Results of Erosion• Creation of Ore Deposits

–Secondary enrichment–Primary enrichment