SOIL EROSION

G.INDUMATHI, M.TECH(E.E&M)-I YEAR

CONTENTS
SOIL AND ITS COMPONENTS
SOIL EROSION AND ITS CAUSES TYPES OF EROSION IMPACTS

SOIL Precious gift of Nature

It is formed by the

weathering of rocks and it covers the surface of the Earth. Soil is a complex mixture of organic and inorganic components and living organisms and is the main resource for food production.

SOIL EROSION
Soil erosion refers to all physical processes that

detach the particles, transport and deposit on land surface. Much of the erosion is due to instability of land mass due to gravity and the balance is directly lost due to excessive moisture or water in the earth mass.

CAUSES OF SOIL EROSION

GEOLOGICAL EROSION-It is a long time process, involves in Soil forming and distribution and maintains Earth surface in uniform level.
NATURAL EROSION- Volcanic eruption, flood ANIMAL AND HUMAN ACTIVITIESDeforestation, Overgrazing, Economic Developmental activities

TYPES OF NATURAL EROSION

WATER EROSION: The separation and transport of soil through Rain, floods, melted snow(Glacial Erosion). It depends on the nature of soil, slope of the land, velocity of water. WIND EROSION: The fine loose soil particles are blown from the surface of the land and transported by the winds. Siltation-transport of soils to short distances, Suspensiontiny particles carried high and remain suspended, Surface creep-Large soil particles transported at ground level with high velocity of wind.

WIND EROSION

TYPES OF WATER EROSION

1.Rain drop or Splash erosion

3. Rill erosion

4. Gully erosion 2. Sheet erosion

RAIN DROP EROSION: The impact of the raindrop breaks apart the soil , once the rate of falling rain is faster than infiltration, runoff takes place. SHEET EROSION -The thin film of water over the entire field moving down-slope. RILL EROSION-The Collection of sheet erosion water into channels called Rills.

GULLY EROSION-The increase in size of rills forms large gully or a channel.

IMPACTS OF SOIL EROSION

On-site effect: The loss of productivity by

the loss of valuable top soil Off-site effect : the siltation of rivers and streams. The sediment carries agricultural chemicals which pollutes streams and lakes-death of aquatic organisms Reduction in Storage capacity of rivers, streams.

 Contamination of drinking water by the Pesticide residues. Loss and degradation of habitat from clearing grasslands and forests and draining wetland.