Solutions need to be developed and introduced which address both issues simultaneously. While soil degradation may occur naturally, it has been highly exuberated by anthropogenic activities. In undisturbed forests, the soil is protected by layers of humus and leaf litter. Principal processes of land degradation include erosion by water and wind, chemical degradation comprising acidification, salinization, leaching etc.
Soil degradation a major threat to humanity summary soil degradation needs to be recognised, alongside climate change, as one of the most pressing problems facing humanity. Two common factorssoil erosion and depletion of soil organic matter som emerge as consistent indicators of how the thin layer covering. 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. Decline in crops yields and agronomic production exacerbate foodinsecurity that currently affects 854 million people globally, and low concentration of protein and micronutrients e. Soil degradation is a critical and growing global problem, with implications for a number of key policy areas, including food security, climate change, flood risk management, drought tolerance, drinking water quality, agricultural resilience in the face of new crop diseases, biodiversity and future genetic resources. It causes land degradation through huge loss of top fertile soil along with plant nutrients through runoff water. Desertification has been defined as land degradation in arid, semiarid, and dry subhumid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities11. Soil loss from conventionally tilled land exceeds the rate of soil formation by 15 2 orders of magnitude medium confidence. Soil degradation is the physical, chemical and biological decline in soil quality. Mar 02, 2020 land degradation is the blanket term usually used to describe a number of land and soil degradation issues such as soil contamination, soil erosion, desertification, and more. Soil degradation is a nebulous term suggesting that the capacity of a soil to perform selected specified services, such as growing crops, has been diminished. Soil degradation as a reason for inadequate human nutrition. This is particularly worrisome since, according to the uns food and agriculture organization, some 83% of subsaharan african people depend on the land for their livelihood, and food production in africa will have to increase almost 100. Causes and impacts of land degradation and desertification.
In the following, the types, causes, effects and solutions for environmental degradation are examined. This study takes the degradation of soil resources as its focus. Causes and efforts to control soil erosion in africa. Different processes of land degradation also confound the available statistics on soil andor land degradation.
Evidence shows we should eat much smaller quantities of sustainablyreared, grassfed meat if any less dairy, and much more fruit and veg. The concept seems rather simple, but quantifying degradation has been very challenging and creates uncertainty associated with quantifying land degradation efforts bai et al. Pdf soil degradation is a global problem caused by many factors including excessive tillage, inappropriate crop rotations, excessive grazing. Causes, effects and solutions of soil degradation paperblog. Land degradation is a process in which the value of the physical environment is affected by a. Both extent and severity of the problem of land degradation spatial variations depending on different relief, ecology, rainfall, land use, land cover and soil types being as proximate and underlying causes. Tilling, multiple harvests and agrochemicals have boosted yields at the expense of sustainability. Careless agricultural practices, pollution and deforestation cause lots of soil degradation in the world. The degradation process in red beds is similar to the karst rocky desertification and land degradation of red soil in hilly areas, but whether this type of extreme land degradation that took place.
Soil degradation, including erosion and loss of fertility, is considered the most significant environmental problem in developing countries fig. Apr 25, 2010 the following are the causes of soil degradation. Air pollution, water pollution, garbage, and pollution of the natural environment are all challenges for india. Cause of land degradation and its impacts on livelihoods of. Ecological degradation can have serious effects for many animals, plants and also for humanity. Deforestation can increase erosion rates due to exposure of mineral soil and removal of humus and litter layers. Soil degradation examples include a decline in soil fertility, adverse changes in alkalinity, acidity or salinity, extreme flooding, use of toxic soil pollutants, erosion, and deterioration of the soils structural condition. Among the major soil degradation processes are accelerated erosion. The causes of degradation due to directindirect human interventions are a deforestation and removal of natural vegetation, b overgrazing, c agriculturerelated activities, and e over exploitation of the vegetation for domestic purpose. Soil degradation environment in eu at the turn of the century chapter 3. This article throws light upon the seven main causes of land degradation in india.
It can be the loss of organic matter, decline in soil fertility, and structural condition, erosion, adverse changes in salinity, acidity or alkalinity, and the effects of toxic chemicals, pollutants or excessive flooding. Degradation of the soil is caused by natural processes as well as by human activities. The main causes of humaninduced land degradation in agroecosystems are. This erosion is the dominant form of soil degradation troeh et al. Land degradation processes are ongoing over large part of the earth land surface figure 3.
These elements contribute to a significant amount of soil quality depreciation annually. But even though the soil changes occur, but the composition of soil layers remain almost the same in a human lifetime. Therefore, the results enable a better understanding of different aspects of the humaninduced soil degradation and the sustainable use of soil in the future. Soil degradation a process that results in the partial loss by soil of previously accumulated organic matter, exchangeable alkalineearth cations, and the clayey fraction. It reduces the depth of soil where it takes place, depletes the ground water table, limits the moisture storage capacity and feeding zones of the crops, deteriorates the soil organic matter, destroys soil structure and impairs fertility due to nutrient losses. Soil degradation causes include agricultural, industrial, and commercial pollution. The soil is always changing as water comes and goes. Soil is a complex body and forms the thin outer layer of the earth. Soil degradation article about soil degradation by the free.
The effects of soil erosion go beyond the loss of fertile land. Degraded soil diminishes food production and leads to soil erosion, which in turn contributes to desertification. Water, the wind, and gravity move in an out of the soil particles. Thus, in order to prevent these adverse consequences, we should take several measures in our daily life. Soil degradation ann verdoodt academic year 20112012 compilation of course notes by prof. Chapter 3 nar rates the causes, factors, and processes of water erosion. Various causes, effects and surprising solutions to soil.
Soil degradation is any type of problem that removes soil in an area or makes highquality soil become poor. Salination from chemical fertilizers soil erosion caused by poor cultivation and land management practices soil. Land degradation is the temporary or permanent lowering of the productive capacity of land unep, 1992b. With the objective of understanding the distinct nature of soil quality decline, here are the causes, effects, and solutions of soil degradation. The paper suggests some rules of thumb for identifying the priority areas for government and donor intervention, including the need for targeted research on the productivity.
Indias population of over million people is more than that of. Causes and features of watershed degradation related to mhp. Soil degradation is the loss of lands production capacity in terms of loss of soil fertility, soil biodiversity, and degradation. Apr 20, 2016 soil degradation environment in eu at the turn of the century chapter 3. Causes of soil degradation and methods for soil conservation. Air pollution, water pollution, garbage, and pollution of the natural environment are all. Responsible regulation of land and agriculture would help, but we need to be frank about our diet too. Among the agents, water is considered as the main cause of soil erosion. Still land degradation lingers and presents the greatest threat to the survival of the nation d.
It thus covers the various forms of soil degradation, adverse human impacts on water resources, deforestation, and lowering of the productive capacity of rangelands. Various causes, effects and surprising solutions to soil degradation. Land use changes and unsustainable land management are direct human causes of land degradation very high confidence, with agriculture being a dominant sector driving degradation 14 very high confidence. Soil degradation nsw environment, energy and science. The three degradation terms, environmental degradation, land degradation, and soil degradation, are defined as any change or disturbance to the environment, land, or soil perceived to be. Deforestation causes fast degradation when the soil is steep sloppy or easily erodible. Several types of soil degradation exist and are a threat to natural forests and planted crops. Land degradation is, however, difficult to grasp in its totality. Not only human action can cause degradation to occur, but also natural causes such as the nature of rainfall amount, intensity, variability, distribution, soil texture, structure, depth, moisture, infiltration rate and topography play an important role in the scope and scale of occurring degradation features.
Besides, climate change combined with human activities continues to worsen soil degradation. Environmental degradation is the disintegration of the earth or. It is directly or indirectly developed from the mineral constituents of the rocks. In this guide, we look at what land degradation is including the sub land and soil issues it encompasses, along with the causes, the effectsimpacts, and the potential. Land degradation and rehabilitation in ethiopia society at large is also suffering from uncertain information about the rates of land use change and land degradation. Two common factorssoil erosion and depletion of soil organic matter somemerge as consistent indicators of how the thin layer covering. Main agents of soil erosion are 1 water, 2 wind, 3 waves and 4 glaciers. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. Soil degradation needs to be recognised, alongside climate change, as one of.
Methods of soil conserva tion including amendments, conservation farming, cover crops. Destruction of natural vegetation cover is a major factor responsible for erosion of soils by water and wind. Increased erosion, particularly related to strong rains and runoff, causes turbidity with several consequences for lake and reservoir water quality, including. This agricultural problem could detrimentally impact our food and water supplies as well as the general sustenance of life. Whilst soil degradation is recognised as a major aspect of land degradation, other processes which affect the productive capacity of cropland, rangeland and forests, such as lowering of the water table and deforestation, are captured by the concept of land degradation. 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. These layers absorb the impact of raindrops and form a protective mat over the soil. The destruction of environments and the eradication of wildlife. Soil degradation is the inability of soil to support the growth of crops. According to global assessment of soil degradation glasod, deforestation is the main cause of soil erosion by wind in about 98% of the area. Soil degradation affects human nutrition and health through its adverse impacts on quantity and quality of food production. Chapter 2 types of land degradation food and agriculture.
Salination from chemical fertilizers soil erosion caused by poor cultivation and land management practices soil compaction caused by farm equipment. Pdf agricultural practices have a substantial impact on many ecosystems worldwide. Potential environmental consequences span from famine and water pollution to reductions in biodiversity and ecosystem efficiency. These impacts include compaction, loss of soil structure, nutrient degradation, and soil salinity. 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. Most of the degradation is due to soil erosion and biodiversity loss in the less populated areas, while water shortage, soil depletion and soil pollution are most common in the most agricultural areas. Restoring soil quality to mitigate soil degradation mdpi. Autoplay when autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next. In addition to erosion, soil quality is affected by other aspects of agriculture.
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