Soil degradation is a global process, but sub-Saharan Africa is affected most, with arid and semi-arid zones being particularly affected. Rainfall, surface runoff, floods, wind erosion, tillage, and mass movements result in the loss of fertile top spoil thereby declining soil quality. Degraded soils which result in poor or no production are also called problem soils. Besides, climate change combined with human activities continues to worsen soil degradation. Cultivation in Steep Slopes July 22, 2012 Footer text here17 18. 3. Proper tillage mechanisms hold as one of the most sustainable ways of avoiding soil quality decline. This website includes study notes, research papers, essays, articles and other allied information submitted by visitors like YOU. Biological factors refer to the human and plant activities that tend to reduce the quality of the soil. Salinized soils can be restored by salt level correction reclamation projects and salinity control. The rates of soil erosion and the loss of soil nutrients, as well as the topsoil, are highly contributed by overgrazing. However, deforestation can be cut down and this can create an impressive way of reshaping and restoring forests and vegetation cover. The causes of land degradation can be divided into natural hazards, direct causes, and underlying causes. Resources Soil erosion is a naturally occurring process that affects all landforms. Organic farmers who add compost and manure to the soil replenish nutrients while reducing flooding risk and capturing carbon. Which organelle is known as “power house” of the cell? One of the simplest but most forgotten methods of land reclamation is the planting of vegetation such as trees, crops, and flowers over the affected soils. The impact of mining on soil depends on the physical, chemical properties of the waste generated. The latest data revealed that erosion has rendered 200 million hectares or 36% of the total area of the country barren (Table 27.1). 2. Productivity loss of some crops is given in Table 27.5. (With Methods)| Industrial Microbiology, How is Cheese Made Step by Step: Principles, Production and Process, Enzyme Production and Purification: Extraction & Separation Methods | Industrial Microbiology, Fermentation of Olives: Process, Control, Problems, Abnormalities and Developments, The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Marginal lands though sustainable for farming are less fertile and more prone to degradation. Overgrazing destroys surface crop cover and breaks down soil particles, increasing the rates of soil erosion. Most agricultural practices involving the use of fertilizers and pesticides often entail misuse or excessive application, thereby contributing to the killing of soil’s beneficial bacteria and other micro-organisms that help in soil formation. Water Erosion 2. A major part of soil depletion is due to the lands over-use and the products that we pour on it. Again, most of the runoff and sediments from urban areas are extremely polluted with oil, fuel, and other chemicals. The slope of the land. Pesticides as a cause of soil degradation - John Kempf Pesticides as a cause of soil degradation Many agronomists and farmers with three or four decades of experience describe how soil health deteriorated quickly when herbicide and pesticide use became mainstream. Soils are a fundamental natural resource, and are the basis for all terrestrial life. Some bacteria and fungi overgrowth in an area can highly impact the microbial activity of the soil through biochemical reactions, which reduces crop yield and the suitability of soil productivity capacity. 6. Preventing salinization in the first place is thus an environmentally friendly means of offering a solution to soil degradation. The adverse effect of alkalinity on availability of nutrients is due to deflocculating effect of sodium ions. Impacts of Soil Degradation The effect of soil degradation is not detected as serious global problem up to 2020. The degradation of our soils, due to human activities, today, can harm our well-being. The annual loss of land is expected to go up to 10 million hectares by 2000 A.D.(Yadava 1996). Unless you strongly believe in Elon Musk‘s idea of making Mars as another habitable planet, do remember that there really is no 'Planet B' in this whole universe. Hence, the contributing factors to soil quality decline such as overgrazing, poor tillage methods, and deforestation are also the leading causes of desertification characterized by droughts and arid conditions. In the same context, soil degradation may also bring about loss of biodiversity. Indirectly it lowers productivity through its adverse effects on the availability of nutrients. The saline degradation is due to natural causes and poor irrigation practices which disturb the water cycle in areas. Chemical considerations such as mineral degradation or the damage induced by acidity or alkalinity (salinization) or waterlogging. These are very real and at times severe issues. This may include activities such as the addition of plant residues to degraded soils and improving range management. Natural basins without outlet for water, low permeability of subsurface horizons, internal drainage, low intake rate of surface soils and obstructions to natural flow of rain water etc. In addition to these causes, intensive cultivation using high-yielding short-duration and fertilizer-responsive cultivars of crops has further accelerated the loss of plant nutrients which is much greater than what is supplemented through fertilizers. Desertification. Wind Erosion 5. Most of the soil eroded from the land together with the chemical fertilizers and pesticides utilized in agricultural fields are discharged into waterways and streams. The decline in soil quality as a result of agricultural chemical fertilizers also further leads to water and land pollution thereby lowering the land’s worth on earth. Rainfall, surface runoff, floods, wind erosion, tillage, and mass movements result in the loss of fertile top spoil thereby declining soil quality. are conditions cause water logging. Soil degradation is the decline in soil condition caused by its improper use or poor management, usually for agricultural, industrial or urban purposes. loss of fertile top soil due to water or wind erosion. The main cause of water erosion is removal of vegetation, over exploitation of vegetation, over grazing and improper agricultural practices. Once soil erosion occurs, it is more likely to happen again. Most of the crops in India are affected due to salinity. These factors reduce the yield. Michael McNeill shares his observations. There are certain agricultural practices that are environmentally unsustainable and at the same time, they are the single biggest contributor to the worldwide increase in soil quality decline. Deforestation: Forests play an important role in maintaining fertility of soil by shedding their leaves … Excessive soil degradation thus gives rise to immediate and long-term impacts which translate into serious global environmental headaches. According to Global Assessment of Soil Degradation (GLASOD), deforestation is the main cause of soil erosion by wind in about 98% of the area. Rainfall, surface runoff, floods, wind erosion, tillage, and mass movements result in the loss of fertile top spoil thereby declining soil quality.All these physical factors produces different types of soil erosion (mainly water and wind erosion) and soil detachment actions, and t… The degradation or deterioration of soil may be caused by the following factors: 1. (And Simple Ways to Reuse Old Mirrors), Can You Compost Coffee Grounds? What are the characters Mendel selected for his experiments on pea plant? Why mitochondria is called as the power house of the cell? Due to shortage of land, increase of population and economic pressure, the farmers have adopted intensive cropping patterns of commercial crops in place of more balanced cereal-legume rotations. The data published by National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (Sehgal and Abrol, 1994) show that about 3.7 million ha land suffers from nutrient loss or depletion of organic matter. Deterioration of the water quality: the increase in the turbidity of water and the contribution of nitrogen and of phosphorus can result in eutrophication. Some of the contributing activities include logging and slash and burn techniques used by individuals who invade forest areas for farming, rendering the soils unproductive and less fertile in the end. Recognizing The Challenges with Preventing Or Solving Land Degradation The fatal nematodes threaten potato cultivation in the Nilgiris and, if not controlled they may pose threat to potato cultivation in that area. Deforestation: Forests play an important role in maintaining fertility of soil by shedding their leaves … A diagrammatic representation of the causes of soil acidity showing the importance of product removal and nitrate leaching in the process . Biological factors which affect the micro-flora and reduce the microbial activity of the soil. It is a serious environmental problem. Privacy Policy3. To fill this knowledge gap, soil degradation simply means the decline in soil quality which comes about due to aspects such as improper land use, agriculture, and pasture, urban or industrial purposes. There are several physical factors contributing to soil degradation distinguished by the manners in which they change the natural composition and structure of the soil. Depletion of nutrients and soil organic matter and erosion are the principal forms of soil degradation. inhibit nitrification. Year after year, huge acres of land lost due to soil erosion, contamination, and pollution. The latest data provided by Sehgal and Abrol (1994) show that the total degraded land in India is 187.8 million ha, of which 162.4 million ha is degraded due to soil erosion alone (Table 27.6). Share Your PPT File. In extreme cases, soil becomes unfit for cultivation. It affects global climate through alterations in water cycle and energy balances and disruptions of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycles. Just like the old adage states that “prevention is better than cure,” so does the same concept apply in solving the worldwide problem of soil degradation through salinization. According to a Pereira and Muñoz-Rojas (2017) synthesis, soil erosion is one of the major causes, evidence of, and key variables used to assess and understand land degradation. In addition to erosion, soil quality is affected by other aspects of agriculture. Avoiding deforestation completely is an uphill task. It is estimated that nearly 2 billion ha of soil resources in the world have been degraded, namely approximately 22% of the total cropland, pasture, forest, and woodland. The land is commonly altered from its natural landscape when it rids its physical composition from soil degradation. The topography of the land may also be a cause of soil erosion. With time, the sedimentation process can clog waterways, resulting in water scarcity. Among the major causes of degradation, water erosion is considered to be the most severe one which covers almost 87% of the affected area. When trees are removed by logging, infiltration rates become elevated and the soil remains bare and exposed to erosion and the buildup of toxicities. Conservation Measures 9. There are several physical factors contributing to soil degradation distinguished by the manners in which they change the natural composition and structure of the soil. Compost Pile vs Bin – Which One is Right For You? It is mainly caused by salt buildup and leaching of nutrients which corrupt the quality of soil by creating undesirable changes in the essential soil chemical ingredients. Soil fertility is reduced due to prolonged intensive cultivation. Overgrazing directly leads to disappearance of vegetation which is one of the important causes of wind and water erosion in dry lands. In the broadest sense, it comprises alterations in the soil’s chemical property that determine nutrient availability. Faulty irrigation projects have resulted not only in the soil infertility, they have also decreased water table of the country’s largest lakes by 80 percent and more, exposing shores to the effects of rapid drying out and land degradation [14]. These chemical factors normally bring forth the irreversible loss of soil nutrients and production capacities such as the hardening of iron and aluminum-rich clay soils into hardpans. One of the topics studied in GCSE Geography is soil erosion and degradation. These factors reduce the yield. During last decade the nutrients deficiency has been considered as the main cause of poor productivity and crop failure. It involves the decline of the soil’s physical, biological, and chemical state. 89 billion to 232 billion which represent a loss of 11 to 26 per cent yield (Table 27.6). Are Wood-burning Stoves Bad For The Environment? The degradation or deterioration of soil may be caused by the following factors: 1. The biological factors affect mainly lessens the microbial activity of the soil. Governments, international organizations, and other environmental stakeholders need to ensure there are appropriate measures for making zero net deforestation a reality so as to inhibit soil degradation. These include erosion, deforestation and overgrazing, flooding and water logging, salination, desertification and ill- planned urbanization. With the objective of understanding the distinct nature of soil quality decline, here are the various causes, effects, and solutions of soil degradation. Data of World Bank Survey (1995) reveal that India loses 1.2 to 6 million tonnes of food grains production every year due to water-logging of soil. Soil degradation has been defined as a process that leads to decline in the fertility or future productive capacity of soil as a result of human activity (United Nations Environment Programme, 1993). Share Your Word File In irrigation these salts are dissolved in soil water and rise to the surface through capillary action. The complex forms of the fertilizer’s chemicals are also responsible for denaturing essential soil minerals, giving rise to nutrient losses from the soil. Steeper areas … This is a question and answer forum for students, teachers and general visitors for exchanging articles, answers and notes. Human activities such as poor farming practices may also deplete soil nutrients thus diminishing soil fertility. 1. All these physical factors produces different types of soil erosion (mainly water and wind erosion) and soil detachment actions, and t… Examples include leaving the previous year’s crop residue on the surface to shield the soil from erosion and avoiding poor tillage methods such as deep plowing. The rate of siltation in many water reservoirs are significantly high. The degradation or deterioration of soil may be caused by the below factors; Physical factors, for example, loss of fertile topsoil due to water or wind erosion. If the loss of nutrients due to soil erosion is included, the loss of nutrients from top soil is 43 million tonnes. Answer Now and help others. Industrial activities, on the other hand, release toxic effluents and material wastes into the atmosphere, land, rivers, and groundwater that eventually pollute the soil and as such, it impacts on soil quality. Extension of cultivation to marginal land: Due to tremendous population increase the use of land is increasing day by day. Soil degradation, defined as lowering and losing of soil functions, is becoming more and more serious worldwide in recent decades, and poses a threat to agricultural production and terrestrial ecosystem. Expansion of canal irrigation is also directly concerned with widespread water-logging and salinity problems in arid and semiarid areas. Altogether, industrial and mining activities degrade the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties. The effects of soil erosion go beyond the loss of fertile land. Causes of Soil Degradation Unsustainable Land management Practices i. Deforestation. Secondly, it covers the soil in an impermeable layer of concrete that amplifies the amount of surface runoff which results in more erosion of the topsoil. As populations grow, individuals can be sensitized and educated regarding sustainable forest management and reforestation efforts. Soil degradation is a global phenomenon. Before sharing your knowledge on this site, please read the following pages: 1. Disturbances in the hydrologic cycle due to inefficient use of surface irrigation water, poor land development, seepage and poor drainage have resulted in higher water tables. Deforestation causes fast degradation when the soil is steep sloppy or easily erodible. The main reasons for unproductiveness or degradation of soils are as follows: Most of the Indian soils are deficient in nutrients and organic matter. Soils become water-logged when the water balance of an area is disturbed because of excess recharge. About 40% of the world’s agricultural land is severely diminished in quality because of erosion and the use of chemical fertilizers, which prevent the land from regenerating. Effects of Water Erosion 4. What are antibiotics? In India pasture land area is decreasing day by day due to expansion of agricultural land. Examples of marginal lands are steep sloppy lands, shallow or sandy soils and the lands in dry and semi-dry areas. The unchecked and indiscriminate grazing on forest land also leads to degradation of forest soils. Overgrazing, cutting of timber trees, collection of fuel wood, shifting cultivation and encroachment of forest areas are some of the important factors responsible for the loss of vegetation cover on the soil which ultimately causes soil erosion. Founded Conserve Energy Future with the sole motto of providing helpful information related to our rapidly depleting environment. Recent satellite data show that the area under pasture land is severely degraded. This is a global problem. Human activities are the primary cause of soil pollution and land degradation. In some cases farmers use more fertilizer inputs to compensate reduced soil productivity while in other cases, they use excess fertilizers. This is otherwise known as conservation tillage, which means tillage mechanisms targeted at making very minimal changes to the soil’s natural condition and at the same time improving the soil’s productivity. Foremost of all, it denudates the soil’s vegetation cover, compacts soil during construction, and alters the drainage pattern. Yeast: Origin, Reproduction, Life Cycle and Growth Requirements | Industrial Microbiology, How is Bread Made Step by Step? 70% of agricultural land suited for raising livestock or crops is already degraded in Africa (FAO, 2011). As an example, mining destroys crop cover and releases a myriad of toxic chemicals such as mercury into the soil thereby poisoning it and rendering it unproductive for any other purpose. The soil quality decline is exuberated more and more as a result of the mechanization of agriculture that gives room for deep plowing, reduction of plant cover, and the formation of the hardpan. Disclaimer Copyright, Share Your Knowledge What causes this to happen? The agricultural fertilizers and pesticides also damage marine and freshwater ecosystems and limit the domestic uses of the water for the populations that depend on them for survival. Overgrazing and cultivation practices that are not adapted to local environments are the principal causes of soil degradation. The erodible material is almost devoid of organic matter and lacks in mineral plant nutrients. Soil degradation causes include agricultural, industrial, and commercial pollution; loss of arable land due to urban expansion, overgrazing, and unsustainable agricultural practices; and long-term climatic changes. Causes of Soil Erosion Excess use of pesticide reduces microbial activity and biomass. (And 3 Ways to Dispose of). Thus soil becomes deficient in essential minerals and this results in productivity loss. Also, preserving the integrity of guarded areas can significantly reduce demonstration. Land reclamation encompasses activities centered towards restoring the previous organic matter and soil’s vital minerals. Just as soil erosion is a component of soil degradation, soil degradation is a component of land degradation. While soil degradation may occur naturally, it has been highly exuberated by anthropogenic activities. The factors below can trigger degradation or deterioration of the soil; For example, physical causes involve the depletion of fertile topsoil due to water or wind erosion. The farmers maintain productivity of soil by applying chemical fertilizers but make less use of organic manures. Share Your PDF File Soil degradation has several adverse impacts on the environment. loss of fertile top soil due to water or wind erosion. In India alone, about 188 million hectares or almost 57% of total land area is degraded (Sehgel and Abrol, 1994). These impacts include compaction, loss of soil structure, nutrient degradation, and soil salinity. Salinity directly affects the productivity by making the soil unsuitable for crop growth. By the end of this topic, you will know how different forms of human activities are responsible for the majority of different types of soil pollution. The estimated annual loss of different crops due to soil degradation rangs from Rs. A true environmentalist by heart ❤️. An area of about 21.7 million hectares of soil is rendered unproductive due to salinity and water-logging. Waste lands are those which for one or the other reason have poor life sustaining property. Soil Degradation Ann Verdoodt Academic Year 2011-2012 Compilation of course notes by Prof. Donald Gabriëls and new materials by Prof. Ann Verdoodt Organic matter is rapidly decomposed and leached or eroded by heavy rains. It also contributes to the displacement of populations and the multiplication of conflicts. According to Central Water Commission (1991), nearly 11 per cent of the total capacity of water reservoirs has been silted. Welcome to BiologyDiscussion! Deforestation causes soil degradation on the account of exposing soil minerals by removing trees and crop cover, which support the availability of humus and litter layers on the surface of the soil. For this reason, the transformed land is unable to soak up water, making flooding more frequent. Vegetation cover primarily promotes the binding of the soil together and soil formation, hence when it is removed it considerably affects the capabilities of the soil such as aeration, water holding capacity, and biological activity. The soil profile is changed; the top soil is turned deep inside the dumps. Causes of Land Degradation: In addition to pollution, soil and land face several other problems. Soil erosion decreases soil fertility, which can negatively affect crop yields. Soil degradation is a complex phenomenon derived by interaction between natural and socio economic factors. Natural hazards are excluded as a cause; however human activities can indirectly affect phenomena such as floods and bush fires. It causes the extinction of species and accentuates climate change. (And Should We Stop Camping? 5. In the past 150 years half the topsoil on the planet has been lost. 4. Top 5 of the World’s Most Wasteful Megacities, 25+ Spectacular Facts About the Amazon Rainforest That You May Not Know About, deforestation are also the leading causes, Can You Recycle Shaving Cream Cans? The nodulation and growth of some leguminous crops and nitrogen fixation are inhibited by different pesticides. During last two decades the area under food crops decreased and that under non-food crops increased. (And Are They Reusable), Are Light Bulbs Recyclable? Name the types of nitrogenous bases present in the RNA. LAND DEGRADATION : Soil quality decline is one of the main causes of land degradation and it considered to be responsible for 84% of the every diminishing acres (FAO, 2011). ii. It is estimated that the Thar Desert is advancing at an alarming rate of around 500 m every year. It also sends soil-laden water downstream, which can create heavy layers of sediment that prevent streams and rivers from flowing smoothly and can eventually lead to flooding. The reduction of soil nutrients because of alkalinity or acidity or waterlogging are all categorized under the chemical components of soil degradation. Trafficking (by animals as well as by vehicles) and cultivation are the primary causes of this form of soil degradation. 3. Main agents of soil erosion are (1) Water, (2) Wind, (3) Waves and (4) Glaciers Removal of the top layer of soil by various means, which include both natural events and human activities, is called as soil erosion. Increased runoff from urban areas also causes a huge disturbance to adjacent watersheds by changing the rate and volume of water that flows through them and impoverishing them with chemically polluted sediment deposits. Soil erosion is a consequence of unsustainable land use and other disturbances, such as fire, mining, or intensive agricultural uses. Effects of Tillage Erosion 8. Out of 20.2 million tonnes NPK removed by the plants, only 2.66 million tonnes comes from fertilizers and 3 million tonnes from organic sources. It is viewed as any change or disturbance to the land perceived to be deleterious or undesirable. Forms of Water Erosion 3. According to an estimate, about 0.8 million ha soil is degraded due to mining activity. Mining disturbs the physical, chemical and biological features of the soil. Important sources of water are heavy rains, overland water flow towards basin, seepage from canals and distribution system and tidal flooding. In warm climates, they also preserve moisture. Soil is chiefly polluted by industrial and mining activities. These protect the soil while returning nutrients and plant matter too. There are several physical factors contributing to soil degradation distinguished by the manners in which they change the natural composition and structure of the soil. Natural hazards are the conditions of the physical environment which lead to the existence of a high degradation hazard, for example steep slopes as a hazard for water erosion. Our mission is to provide an online platform to help students to share notes in Biology. In highly productive areas, canal irrigation is responsible for a rapid rise in water table. What causes Soil Pollution? Other improper cultivation activities such as farming on steep slope and mono-cropping, row-cropping, and surface irrigation wear away the natural composition of the soil and its fertility and prevent soil from regenerating. Destruction of natural vegetation cover is a major factor responsible for erosion of soils by water and wind. Hence, there is a necessity for individuals all over the world to respect forest cover and reduce some of the human-driven actions that encourage logging. TOS4. Because soil degradation contributes to land degradation, it also means that it creates a significant loss of arable land. Consequently, actions such as reducing irrigation, planting salt-tolerant crops, and improving irrigation efficiency will have high payoffs because the inputs and the labor-demanding aspects associated with reclamation projects are zero. Requirements | industrial Microbiology, how is Bread made Step by Step productivity and crop failure in 27.5... Altered from its natural landscape when it rids its physical composition from soil degradation water scarcity fertility. Over grazing and improper agricultural practices such as mineral degradation or the induced. 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