Define soil degradation and discuss the processes leading to it

Answer 1

Any process that removes soil or makes it less productive is defined as soil degradation. Soil degradation includes erosion, chemical deterioration, and physical changes. Erosion is usually slow enough for soil formation to keep pace, but unfortunately, some human practices increase the rate of erosion.

Removing natural vegetation by plowing, overgrazing, overexploitation for fire wood, and deforestation all contribute to erosion by wind and running water. Running water removes soil by several different methods. Where gullies form and gullying is extensive, croplands can no longer be tilled and must be abandoned.

Soil undergoes chemical deterioration when its nutrients are depleted and its productivity decreases. Loss of soil nutrients is most notable in many of the populous developing nations where soils are overused to maintain high levels of agricultural productivity. Chemical deterioration is also caused by insufficient use of fertilizers and by clearing soils of their natural vegetation.

Soil deteriorates physically when it is compacted by the weight of heavy machinery and livestock, especially cattle. Compacted soils are more costly to plow, and plants have a more difficult time emerging from them. Furthermore, water does not readily infiltrate, so more runoff occurs, which in turn accelerates the rate of water erosion.