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Soil degradation Erosion by wind and water
erosion - The surface removal of soil material from soils by the action of water or
wind.
Soil Erosion?
An example of soil degradation
Soil is naturally removed by the action of water or wind
Since the first land plants formed the first soil
During times of erosive rainfall or windstorms, soil may be detached, transported,
and deposited
Effects both on-site (at the place where the soil is detached) and off-site
(wherever the eroded soil ends up)
Soil erosion
Water
and
Wind
Water erosion
Water and wind erosion account for more than 80% of the 20 million square kilomet
res degraded worldwide
Water erosion accounts for nearly 60% of soil degradation.
There are many types of water erosion including surface, gully, rill and tunnel erosio
n.
Rain Splash
Rain splash erosion is caused by the impact of water striking the surface.
It generally takes place in two steps.
Precipitation is absorbed by the surface
It fills the pore spaces, loosening soil particles and driving them apart.
The impact of subsequent rain drops hitting the surface splash the particle away
from the point of impact. The effect is to give the surface a dimpled-like
appearance.
Sheet erosion
Surface runoff forms when the rainfall intensity of a storm exceeds the infiltration
capacity of the soil.
Sheet erosion is caused by the unconfined flow of water running across the surface.
Thin layers of soil are being removed.
Sheet erosion may lead to the loss of the finest soil particles which contain
nutrients and organic matter.
It also leads to a long-term reduction in the available soil profile.
Affects the productivity of the land.
Removal of seeds or seedlings and reduce the soil's ability to store water for
plants to draw upon between rainfall events
Soil deposited off-site through sheet erosion causes crop and pasture damage,
water-quality deterioration and stream, dam, lake and reservoir sedimentation.
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Rill erosion
Rill erosion is caused by water concentrating into innumerable, closely-spaced
small channels.
Rills are usually only 2 inches deep.
Rills can cut vertically and horizontally and when joined form gullies.
The loss of topsoil and nutrients
Reduces productivity, as subsoils are less fertile.
Also related soil deposition off-site causes sedimentation of streams, dams and
reservoirs, resulting in water quality deterioration and damage to aquatic habitats.
There is also loss of the available soil profile.
Tunnel erosion
Tunnel erosion is the removal of sub-surface soil by water while the surface soil
remains relatively intact.
This may produce long cavities beneath the soil surface (i.e. tunnels), which can
enlarge until the surface soil is no longer supported and collapses to form an open
gully.
Tunnel erosion leads to loss of productive capability, deposition of infertile subsoils
in low lying landscapes and high sediment loads in streams or rivers.
In the worst cases tunnels provide a hazard by collapsing, restricting safe access
(e.g. vehicular access) and forming gullies.
Gully erosion
Gullies are steep-sided trenches formed by the coalescence of many rills. Gully
erosion means the loss of large volumes of soil.
Once started they are difficult to stop.
Several gullies may lead to a stream/channel.
Deep wide gullies, sometimes reaching 30 m deep, severely limit the use of the
land, while off-site deposition of soil causes water quality decline in streams or
rivers and sedimentation of dams and reservoirs.
Large gullies disrupt normal farm operations, creating access problems for vehicles
and stock
Stream bank erosion
Deeper and wider than gullies
Several gullies joint together form a stream bank erosion.

Stream bank erosion results from stream flow eroding banks or rapid loss of flow
causing the banks to slump.
Loss of productive land
Dramatic changes in the course of a river or creek often restrict access on
properties. Subsequent deposition of soil causes problems on productive land
downstream and sedimentation in reservoirs.
Reduction in water quality due to high sediment loads, loss of native aquatic
habitats, damage to public utilities (roads, bridges and dams) and maintenance
costs associated with trying to prevent or control erosion sites

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Wind erosion
Wind erosion is the process by which soil particles are detached from the land
surface and transported by the wind. The cost of wind erosion is high,
with environmental, health and economic impacts.
It (deflation) occurs mainly in regions with gray-brown and light-gray soils, where
wind velocity is more than 10-15 m/sec. (where it is strong)
Strong winds destroy soil structure and carry away a humus, that results in the
decrease of agricultural productivity. Wind erosion is often occurs in the southern
regions of Khatlon region and Syrdarya area of Sogd region.
Sum up
Bibliography
http://www.soilerosion.net/doc/water_erosion.html
http://www4.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/textbook/mass_movement_weath
ering/water_erosion.html
http://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/what-are-soils-67647639

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