The word erosion is derived from the latin rodere meaning to gnaw, the same root that gives us the word rodent. Water erosion is the removal of soil from the lands surface by running water including runoff from melted snow and ice. There are places and situations where erosion rates are much higher than this limit, even as high as 100 t ha. In this type of soil erosion, heavy rainfall and rapidly running water produce fingershaped grooves or rills over the entire field fig. Soil erosion by water can result in direct losses of soil biodiversity through t he removal of soil flora, fauna and microorganisms in the running water. Soil erosion factsheets department of primary industries. Causes of soil erosion water and wind erosion causes. Soil degradation is a global environmental problem which started since the innovation of agriculture by human kind. Soil erosion is the process that erodes, breaks or gradually diminishes things down. Soil erosion and sedimentation control program sesc part 91, soil erosion and sedimentation control, of the natural resources and environmental protection act nrepa part 91 provides for the control of soil erosion and protects adjacent properties and the waters of the state from sedimentation. Environment agency thinksoils factors that influence erosion and runoff generic soil groups chalk and limestone soils factors that influence erosion and runoff 18 generic soils groups chalk and limestone soils 3 shallow chalk and limestone soils these thin soils are less than 30cm deep. Soil particles are detached eroded, transported as sediment and deposited sedimentation by wind, water, ice or gravity.
In accordance with these agents, erosion is sometimes divided into water erosion, glacial. Deposition of the sediment removed by erosion is likely in any area where the velocity of running water is reducedbehind plants, litter, and rocks. Soil is the most fundamental and basic natural resource for all life to survive. This article throws light upon the six main factors affecting soil erosion by water. The five types of water erosion and techniques for minimizing them are outlined in table 11. The process may be natural or accelerated by human activity. The three main phases of soil erosion are detachment, transport and deposition. Coir is natural coconut fiber that will protect the soil while the.
Bare soil exposed to a rain event can become quickly eroded, leading to sediment that moves into adjacent storm sewers or lakes and streams. Water erosion limestone 100,000 sand 10,000 alluvium 1,000 100 10 1 0 200 400 600 mean annual precipitation mm wind erosion friction fluid threshold imp thre act. Soil erosion control and water resource protection can closely interact during restoration of terrestrial ecosystems. The revised universal soil loss equation rusle is an erosion model predicting. Several conservation management practices can be used to reduce or control soil water erosion, but the factors that accelerate or control. The effects are less conspicuous following regular rainfall events, where small amounts of soil are removed. Nov 14, 2012 a recent new model of soil erosion by water has estimated the surface area affected in the eu. Modeling will help estimate probabilities of erosion to breach. Jun 23, 2017 if the rainfall continues, water gathers on the ground, causing water flow on the land surface, known as surface water runoff, which carries soil away and deposits it elsewhere. Due to the rapidly progressive loan of land and water reeources by erosion, urgent action in. Subsoil is usually less hospitable to plant growth than topsoil because of a lack of nutrients and lower available waterholding capacity. It is aggravated by removal of vegetation, over grazing or cultivation near the stream banks. Types of water erosion the four types of water erosion are as follows.
Four kinds of accelerated water erosion are commonly recognized. The principal types of soil erosion by water are splash erosion, sheet erosion, interrill erosion, rill erosion, gully erosion, landslides, and stream erosion. Water erosion how to control the main types of erosion. Assessing the largescale impacts of environmental change using a. Plants prevent wind and water erosion by covering the soil and binding the soil with their roots. Plants grow and colonize creating deep root systems protecting the soil from water in its various forms. World association of soil and water conservation, bristol, england,uk keywords. Soil erosion is the displacement of the upper layer of soil, it is one form of soil degradation. Land degradation soil degradation is the decline in soil quality caused by its improper use, usually for agricultural, pastoral, industrial or urban purposes. A form of water erosion in which gullies are produced by combination of unattended rills. However, water generated erosion is the most damaging factor, especially in developing areas. Nov 18, 2015 a brief overview of the qualitative aspects of soil erosion by water. Splash and sheet erosion can best be prevented by protecting the land surface with vegetation, mulch or erosion control. Erosion preceded by the destruction of the crumb structure due to the impact of falling raindrop on the surface of soil is termed as splash erosion.
Soil erosion is likely the greatest degrader of soil quality by natural forces because when soil is lost by erosion it is generally not replaced by natural weathering processes within a human life time alewell et al. Soil and water conservation rtil an aid to rango management. The impact of raindrops will break up the soil and water buildup will create runoff, taking sediment with it. Effects of distinct revegetation methods on growth and microbial properties of vallisneria natans. The 2002 connecticut guidelines for soil erosion and sediment control dep bulletin 34 are intended to provide information to government agencies and the public on soil erosion and sediment control. Land degradation, soil erosion and soil conservation pmf ias. Soil erosion by water can have negati ve consequences for a soil s capacity for sto rage, filtering, buffering and transformation. Several conservation management practices can be used to reduce or control soil water erosion, but the factors that accelerate or control soil water erosion need to be understood. Water erosion the widespread occurrence of water erosion combined with the severity of onsite and offsite. Types and forms of erosion by water and by wind anne x 1 1.
Water and wind erosion are two main agents that degrade soils find. Water erosion there are five types of water erosion shown in figure 2. Soil erosion by water new building and development causes significant site damage, often resulting in soil erosion. Gilley, in encyclopedia of soils in the environment, 2005.
Water erosion water erosion causes two sets of problems. It is more prominent type of erosion in which heavy rainfall, rapidly running water and transporting water may result in. Water erosion limestone 100,000 sand 10,000 alluvium 1,000 100 10 1 0 200 400 600 mean annual precipitation mm wind erosion friction fluid threshold imp thre act shold v t c m s e c. The best way to control water erosion and restore eroded land is with vegetation. Saha agriculture and soils division indian institute of remote sensing, dehra dun abstract. Large area in asiapacific region is affected by soil erosion. Soil erosion is removal of soil due to movement of water andor air. The best choice of plants to prevent soil erosion are herbs, wild flowers and small trees. Water erosion is caused by the detachment and transport of soil by rainfall, runoff, melting snow or ice, and irrigation. A guide to conservation planning with the revised universal soil loss equation rusle author.
This sequence of events occurs over a wide range of temporal and spatial scales, from raindrop splash moving particles millimeters in milliseconds to suspended. Soil erosion by water is the wearing away of the earths surface by the force of water and gravity, and consists of soil particle dislodgement, entrainment, transport, and deposition. Erosion is a natural process but is often intensified by human land use practices. Clay soils, even with larger material particles, are also easily eroded by water, yet clay appears to be more durable against the wind. The conventional wisdom has been to assume that surface roughness increases the resistance. Soil conservation encyclopedia of life support systems. For most areas of iowa, the loss of 1 inch per acre of. Weathering and erosion lead to the simultaneous process of degradation and aggradation. For example, over a period of 100 years at an erosion loss rate of 2 thayr on 10 ha, erosion will deposit the soil equivalent of about 1 ha of land with a soil depth of 15 cm. Soil erosion is a natural phenomenon by which soil is removed from rocks. Yet even low rates of erosion sustained over billions of years, result in the displacement of enormous quantities of soil.
Soil erosion definition of soil erosion soil erosion is the wearing away of the land surface by physical forces such as rainfall, flowing water, wind, ice, temperature change, gravity or other natural or anthropogenic agents that abrade, detach and remove soil or geological material from one point on the. According to this classification, the loess plateau has three erosion regions. When raindrops reach the soil, they detach soil particles. It is the fairly uniform removal of soil in thin layers from the land surface, often scarcely perceptible, especially when caused by wind. Water free fulltext dynamic changes of soil erosion. Soil erosion soil erosion is the loosening and displacement of topsoil from the land due to the action of agents like wind and water. In ethiopia soil erosion by water that contributes significantly in food insecurity in rural households, constitutes a real threat to the sustainability of the existing subsistence agriculture moard, 2009. Farmers plant trees and grass to cover and bind the soil. Accelerated erosion due to misuse of resources of land, water and soil is today one.
The severity of erosion depends upon the quantity of soil detached. Precipitation is the most forceful factor causing soil erosion. Soil erosion carries away valuable topsoil containing critical nutrients, as well as excess fertilizers and pesticides. Water erosion is a major factor in pennsylvania and will be discussed here. In conservation planning, erosion estimates are made for an existing management system and compared with alternative systems and with soil loss tolerance, t, values. Recurring erosion is more typical for soil in areas that have experienced erosion in the past.
Erosion occurs when the earth wears away, by wind, ice, or most commonly, water. Sheet erosion is the removal of a thin layer of exposed surface soil by the action of raindrop splash and runoff. The manning roughness coefficient for bare soil nsoil is. Soil deterioration and low water quality due to erosion and surface runoff have become severe problems worldwide. Erosion may also impact water conveyance and storage structures, and contribute to pollution from land surfaces. When dry soil is crushed in the hand, it can be seen that it is composed of all kinds of. There is the potential for burns since it gives off heat while setting. The detached soil particles are subsequently transported by overland water flow. The extensive removal of forests for crops and pastures is followed by extensive soil erosion. Soil quality information sheet rangeland soil quality water. Soil erosion processes soil erosion is the physical movement of soil particles from one location to another, primarily due to forces of water or wind.
Loss of soil vegetative cover is especially widespread in developing countries. The soil material is suspended in runoff water and carried away. These guidelines fulfill the requirements of connecticuts soil erosion and sediment control act 22a325 through 22a329 of the. Department of agriculture, agriculture handbook no. Stream banks are eroded by water either flowing over the sides of a stream or scouring at the base. Runoff washes away the soil particles from sloping. Preventing the topsoil from eroding must be an integral part of any soil management system if water quality is to be improved. This leaflet explains the different types of erosion on the north coast. Water erosion is subdivided into raindrop, sheet, rill, gully and stream channel erosion.
Environment agency thinksoils factors that influence erosion and runoff soil surface roughness factors that influence erosion and runoff soil surface roughness 3 ploughed land provides surface storage of rainwater soil surface roughness soil surface roughness rough surfaces e. Soil erosion in nature may be a slow process geological erosion or a fast process promoted by human activities like overgrazing, deforestation. The problem may become so severe that the land can no longer be cultivated and must be abandoned. Erosion and conservation the soil is the one indestructible, immutable asset that the nation possesses. When soil erosion is severe, soil erodes faster than it can be renewed. The water moves in broad sheets over the land, picks up these particles and carries them along as it flows downhill. Water erosion and water quality southwest watershed research. Water erosion is the detachment and removal of soil material by water. The rate of erosion may be very slow to very rapid. The rate of erosion may be very slow to very rapid, depending on the soil, the local landscape, and weather conditions. Soil erosion by water is the detachment, transport and deposition of soil particles by flowing water. Types of soil erosion soil erosion is a natural process that wears away the earths surface. Exercise caution when using plaster of paris in demonstration 3. The main agents of erosion are water, wind and gravity.
Water and wind erosion will be described in detail below. Of those, the role of surface roughness in soil erosion is perhaps one of the most vexing problems. Soil erosion may lead to the significant loss of soil productivity and thus may lead to the desertification under sever conditions. Soil erosion and sediment control by the connecticut council on soil and water conservation in cooperation with the connecticut department of environmental protection dep bulletin 34 isbn 0. Hydraulic studies are needed to determine the erosive capacity of the water impacting the rock or soil. Estimating sheet and rill erosion how, why, and by whom water erosion is estimated nrcs estimates soil erosion by water as part of its technical assistance to land users. Almost 20 % is subjected to soil loss in excess of 10 tonnesha. Soil quality information sheet rangeland soil quality water erosion usda, natural resources conservation service may 2001 rangeland sheet 9 what is water erosion. It encompasses physical soil erosion, chemical salinity and alkalinity, pollution and biological deterioration pollution and. After intense rainfall and runoff events, it can take the form of concentrated flow.
Eroded soil causes many problems for homeowners and public facilities. Jun 25, 2016 resisting forces which retard erosion. On a construction site, the erosion process is accelerated because the soil is left. Sheet erosion soil erosion is characterised by the downslope removal of soil particles within a thin sheet of water.
One third of the worlds agricultural soils, or roughly 2 billion hectares of land, was reported as being affected by soil. Pesticides and other chemicals can get trapped in soil, polluting streams and rivers as the soil breaks apart. But did you know that soil erosion also can seriously impair crop productivity. Soil quality information sheet rangeland soil quality. Most agriculture activities, especially on sloping landscapes, increase the potential for soil erosion. This is the type of erosion that results from runoff that spreads across the soil. Soil and erosion the jar for demonstration 2 must very solid can use glass, but be careful since the glass may break. Since 1982, the combined wind and water erosion on agricultural cropland in the united states has been reduced by more than 43%, from 3.
Soil erosion a nation that destroys its soil destroys itself f. Solved examples with detailed answer description, explanation are given and it would be easy to understand. Types and forms of erosion by water and by wind food and. Erosion processes and soil conservation technology 4. Water and wind erosion are two main agents that degrade soils. The degree to which this happens depends on the size and speed of the falling raindrops. Water and wind induced soil erosion has adverse economic and environmental impacts. Soil and water in a changing environment 5 table of contents executive summary 11 list of abbreviations 23 glossary 25 introduction 29 chapter 1 soil water retention capacity or how soils capture, store and release water 33 1.
As simple as the solution is, a little help never hurts. Based on the characteristics of each unique soil, it is more or less susceptible to erosion. Soil erosion and sediment loss from construction sites has been documented as a major source of water pollution refer to usgs study. In general, when the rate of infiltration and transmission through the soil is higher, the volume of runoff is lower. An onsite loss of agricultural potential an offsite effect of downstream movement of sediment, causing flooding and the silting up of reservoirs. Value 1 this form of erosion is no longer visible after cultivation ploughing, hoeing etc. Workshop on common criteria for risk area identification in. Excessive erosion can threaten the production of agricultural and forest products. Soil erosion is the weathering away of topsoil caused by water, wind or tillage. Three types of soil erosion are classified as water erosion, wind erosion, and tillage erosion. The transmission rate is the rate at which the water moves through the soil and is controlled by the soil layers. 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.
Soil erosion and pollution continues to be the number one. In the case of storage and bufferi ng, t hese consequences. Increased variations in rainfallpattern and intensity will make soils moresusceptible to water erosion, with offsite effects of soil erosion increasing. Soil erosion by wind or water is a selective process where the organicrich topsoil is lost lowery et al.
This natural process is caused by the dynamic activity of erosive agents, that is, water, ice glaciers, snow, air wind, plants, animals, and humans. The resistance of soil to erosion is typically defined by the detachment rate kd. The process of erosion usually takes place on the surface of soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the earths crust and with the help of the wind or water flow, it gets to settle down at another location. Soil erosion under different rainfall intensities, surface. Soil erosion can also lead to mudslides and floods, negatively affecting the structural integrity of buildings and roadways.
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