Soil Erosion Factors

Agri-science Mr. Bailey

Soil is…• A renewable source but it takes 200-400

years to create 1 cm

• Worldwide, topsoil is being lost up to 10 times the rate of new soil formation

• Soil erosion is a natural process, but can be accelerated as a result of human actions.

What is soil erosion?• Soil erosion is the removal of soil by

wind or water.

What causes soil erosion?• Soil erosion is caused by the following:

• water splash, runoff

• wind drying and blowing soil

• accelerated erosion caused by farming, construction

The Worst Ever!!!!• Dust Bowl 1930’s

• Congress officials came out one day and found dust on their cars

• After this they decided something needed to be done about conserving soil

What are the types of soil erosion?1. Sheet erosion: the gradual and fairly

uniform removal of surface soil; sheet erosion is caused by splash erosion and slow runoff.

2. Rill erosion: small streamlets that are cut into the soil surface by running water; rill erosion is caused by runoff.

What are the types of soil erosion?3. Gully erosion: rills that have become

extremely large; gully erosion is caused by uncontrolled runoff for an extended period of time.

4. Sandblows: the result of wind picking up soil particles and carrying them away; sandblows are caused by the removal of vegetative cover, which allows the soil to become dry and loose.

Gully Erosion

Sandblown

Exit Slip 1. List the causes of soil erosion.

2. Identify the four main types of soil erosion.