Question
Explain the causes of soil erosion.
Solution
Causes of Soil Erosion:
1. Steep slope: Steep slopes affect the rapidity of running water. On steep slopes, the intensity of soil erosion increases.
2. Torrential rainfall: Heavy rainfall makes the soil particles loose and scoops out the soil, forming gullies and ravines. This gives rise to a dissected surface called bad land as in the Chambal Valley of India.
3. Strong winds: Winds and dust storms blow away soils in dry areas. This process is known as depletion.
4. Overgrazing: Due to overgrazing, the vegetation cover becomes too thin to protect the soil. Rain and wind can easily erode the uncovered soil.
5. Overcropping: Crop rotation maintains soil fertility. But overcropping and shifting cultivation renders soil infertile.
6. Deforestation: Deforestation means the removal of forest cover and it exposes the area to soil erosion. Reckless cutting of trees has resulted in soil erosion along the Shivalik hills. Human misuse of the land through wrong farming practices, deforestation etc. leads to the removal of soil cover.
