Some bacteria and fungi overgrowth in an area can highly impact the microbial activity of the soil through biochemical reactions, which reduces crop yield and the suitability of soil productivity capacity. The latest data provided by Sehgal and Abrol (1994) show that the total degraded land in India is 187.8 million ha, of which 162.4 million ha is degraded due to soil erosion alone (Table 27.6). Important sources of water are heavy rains, overland water flow towards basin, seepage from canals and distribution system and tidal flooding. Name the types of nitrogenous bases present in the RNA. Productivity loss of some crops is given in Table 27.5. Land degradation is a process in which the value of the biophysical environment is affected by a combination of human-induced processes acting upon the land. 4. It affects global climate through alterations in water cycle and energy balances and disruptions of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycles. (And Should We Stop Camping? Pesticides as a cause of soil degradation - John Kempf Pesticides as a cause of soil degradation Many agronomists and farmers with three or four decades of experience describe how soil health deteriorated quickly when herbicide and pesticide use became mainstream. Thus, soil erosion is a continuous process and may occur either at a relatively unnoticed rate or an alarming rate contributing to copious loss of the topsoil. Deterioration of the water quality: the increase in the turbidity of water and the contribution of nitrogen and of phosphorus can result in eutrophication. Applications of some pesticide chemicals (e.g., amitrole, atrazine, bromacil, picloram, etc.) Either way, soil erosion can lead to severe environmental degradation since large areas of land can become useless due to the erosion of soil. Disposal of oil shales, heavy metal contamination of soil and spillage of crude oils adversely affect soil micro flora which ultimately affect soil productivity and cause soil degradation. In the long-term, the physical forces and weathering processes lead to the decline in soil fertility and adverse changes in the soil’s composition/structure. The degradation or deterioration of soil may be caused by the following factors: 1. There are several physical factors contributing to soil degradation distinguished by the manners in which they change the natural composition and structure of the soil. Other improper cultivation activities such as farming on steep slope and mono-cropping, row-cropping, and surface irrigation wear away the natural composition of the soil and its fertility and prevent soil from regenerating. One of the simplest but most forgotten methods of land reclamation is the planting of vegetation such as trees, crops, and flowers over the affected soils. (And 3 Ways to Dispose of). 3. As populations grow, individuals can be sensitized and educated regarding sustainable forest management and reforestation efforts. Soils are a fundamental natural resource, and are the basis for all terrestrial life. Avoiding soil degradation is crucial to our well-being. Thus soil becomes deficient in essential minerals and this results in productivity loss. Soil Nutrient Mining iii. Examples include leaving the previous year’s crop residue on the surface to shield the soil from erosion and avoiding poor tillage methods such as deep plowing. The estimated annual loss of different crops due to soil degradation rangs from Rs. A major part of soil depletion is due to the lands over-use and the products that we pour on it. inhibit nitrification. Disturbances in the hydrologic cycle due to inefficient use of surface irrigation water, poor land development, seepage and poor drainage have resulted in higher water tables. Deforestation causes fast degradation when the soil is steep sloppy or easily erodible. What causes Soil Pollution? Summary 10. The tillage on agricultural lands is one of the main factors since it breaks up the soil into finer particles, which increase erosion rates. These impacts include compaction, loss of soil structure, nutrient degradation, and soil salinity. The problem is more severe in the cultivated areas of the subtropical belt. Most of the canal areas in arid and semiarid regions are rich in soluble salts. In the same context, soil degradation may also bring about loss of biodiversity. In extreme cases, soil becomes unfit for cultivation. If the loss of nutrients due to soil erosion is included, the loss of nutrients from top soil is 43 million tonnes. Of the world’s total land area of 13.5 billion hectares, only 3.03 billion hectares (22 per cent) is actually cultivable and about 2 billion hectares is degraded. Are Wood-burning Stoves Bad For The Environment? Michael McNeill shares his observations. Deforestation causes soil degradation on the account of exposing soil minerals by removing trees and crop cover, which support the availability of humus and litter layers on the surface of the soil. In highly productive areas, canal irrigation is responsible for a rapid rise in water table. The adverse effect of alkalinity on availability of nutrients is due to deflocculating effect of sodium ions. Replace goodness. In India pasture land area is decreasing day by day due to expansion of agricultural land. Soil degradation is the decline in soil condition caused by its improper use or poor management, usually for agricultural, industrial or urban purposes. Marginal lands though sustainable for farming are less fertile and more prone to degradation. Most of the crops in India are affected due to salinity. Most of the crop production practices result in the topsoil loss and the damage of soil’s natural composition that makes agriculture possible. Deforestation: Forests play an important role in maintaining fertility of soil by shedding their leaves … The water-logging and salinity cause a loss of Rs. These factors reduce the yield. The unchecked and indiscriminate grazing on forest land also leads to degradation of forest soils. loss of fertile top soil due to water or wind erosion. In addition to these causes, intensive cultivation using high-yielding short-duration and fertilizer-responsive cultivars of crops has further accelerated the loss of plant nutrients which is much greater than what is supplemented through fertilizers. 1. The causes of land degradation can be divided into natural hazards, direct causes, and underlying causes. Altogether, industrial and mining activities degrade the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties. To fill this knowledge gap, 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 industrial purposes. Because soil degradation contributes to land degradation, it also means that it creates a significant loss of arable land. Causes of Land Degradation: In addition to pollution, soil and land face several other problems. Salinized soils can be restored by salt level correction reclamation projects and salinity control. Founded Conserve Energy Future with the sole motto of providing helpful information related to our rapidly depleting environment. Indirectly it lowers productivity through its adverse effects on the availability of nutrients. Overgrazing, cutting of timber trees, collection of fuel wood, shifting cultivation and encroachment of forest areas are some of the important factors responsible for the loss of vegetation cover on the soil which ultimately causes soil erosion. The fatal nematodes threaten potato cultivation in the Nilgiris and, if not controlled they may pose threat to potato cultivation in that area. Resources Soil erosion is a naturally occurring process that affects all landforms. Physical factors, e.g. #3 Soil erosion gets worse TOS4. This website includes study notes, research papers, essays, articles and other allied information submitted by visitors like YOU. According to a Pereira and Muñoz-Rojas (2017) synthesis, soil erosion is one of the major causes, evidence of, and key variables used to assess and understand land degradation. The rates of soil erosion and the loss of soil nutrients, as well as the topsoil, are highly contributed by overgrazing. The outcomes of soil erosion are reduced agricultural productivity, ecological collapse, soil degradation, and the possibility of desertification. All these physical factors produces different types of soil erosion (mainly water and wind erosion) and soil detachment actions, and t… Waste lands are those which for one or the other reason have poor life sustaining property. Our mission is to provide an online platform to help students to share notes in Biology. Recognizing The Challenges with Preventing Or Solving Land Degradation Soil erosion can either be caused by natural forces like wind or water or can be caused by human behavior like deforestation or the building of dams. This may include activities such as the addition of plant residues to degraded soils and improving range management. By the end of this topic, you will know how different forms of human activities are responsible for the majority of different types of soil pollution. Soil degradation is the loss of land’s production capacity in terms of loss of soil fertility, soil biodiversity, and degradation. 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 soil’s structural condition. With the reduction of deforestation, soil’s ability to naturally regenerate can be restored. 5. Consequently, actions such as reducing irrigation, planting salt-tolerant crops, and improving irrigation efficiency will have high payoffs because the inputs and the labor-demanding aspects associated with reclamation projects are zero. As much as it’s a concern associated with natural environments in arid and semi-arid areas, the UN recognizes the fact that drought and aridity are anthropogenic induced factors especially as an outcome of soil degradation. A true environmentalist by heart ❤️. The nation that destroys its soil, destroys itself. Disclaimer Copyright, Share Your Knowledge These include erosion, deforestation and overgrazing, flooding and water logging, salination, desertification and ill- planned urbanization. The slope of the land. The farmers maintain productivity of soil by applying chemical fertilizers but make less use of organic manures. Urbanization has major implications on the soil degradation process. Depletion of nutrients and soil organic matter and erosion are the principal forms of soil degradation. These elements contribute to a significant amount of soil quality depreciation annually. These factors reduce the yield. 2. Steeper areas … Compost Pile vs Bin – Which One is Right For You? Just as soil erosion is a component of soil degradation, soil degradation is a component of land degradation. According to an estimate, about 0.8 million ha soil is degraded due to mining activity. With time, the sedimentation process can clog waterways, resulting in water scarcity. are conditions cause water logging. Organic matter is rapidly decomposed and leached or eroded by heavy rains. Organic farmers who add compost and manure to the soil replenish nutrients while reducing flooding risk and capturing carbon. Soil and land degradation are interrelated issues and often come up in the same context. Natural events such as wildfires, hurricanes, landslides, tsunamis and earthquakes can totally lower the survival grade of local animal communities and plant life in a region. Soil erosion decreases soil fertility, which can negatively affect crop yields. Still, soil organic matter and plant nutrients can be replenished. Faulty irrigation projects have resulted not only in the soil infertility, they have also decreased water table of the country’s largest lakes by 80 percent and more, exposing shores to the effects of rapid drying out and land degradation [14]. Answer Now and help others. There are certain agricultural practices that are environmentally unsustainable and at the same time, they are the single biggest contributor to the worldwide increase in soil quality decline. Among the major causes of degradation, water erosion is considered to be the most severe one which covers almost 87% of the affected area. Impacts of Soil Degradation The effect of soil degradation is not detected as serious global problem up to 2020. depletion of nutrients or the toxicity due to acidity or alkalinity (salinization) or water logging. 12 billion to 27 billion annually. Soil erosion is a consequence of unsustainable land use and other disturbances, such as fire, mining, or intensive agricultural uses. This quiz looks not only at the causes of soil erosion, but also the effects - such as how it damages ecosystems. (And Are They Reusable), Are Light Bulbs Recyclable? According to National Commission on Agriculture (1976), about 6 million ha area is under water-logged condition. Unless you strongly believe in Elon Musk‘s idea of making Mars as another habitable planet, do remember that there really is no 'Planet B' in this whole universe. According to Global Assessment of Soil Degradation (GLASOD), deforestation is the main cause of soil erosion by wind in about 98% of the area. ), Are Mirrors Recyclable? It occurs whenever the natural balances in the landscape are changed by human activity through misuse or overuse of soil. loss of fertile top soil due to water or wind erosion. Chemical considerations such as mineral degradation or the damage induced by acidity or alkalinity (salinization) or waterlogging. It also contributes to the displacement of populations and the multiplication of conflicts. (And 10 Ways to Reuse Coffee Grounds), Are Ziploc Bags Recyclable? Degradation leads to reduction in crop yield in the affected lands and a possible decline in cropping intensity. Therefore, the misuse or excessive use of fertilizers increases the rate of soil degradation by destroying the soil’s biological activity and builds up of toxicities through incorrect fertilizer use. What causes this to happen? Biological factors which affect the micro-flora and reduce the microbial activity of the soil. Land reclamation encompasses activities centered towards restoring the previous organic matter and soil’s vital minerals. 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. Wind Erosion 5. Chemical factors such as the depletion of nutrients or the toxicity due to acidity or alkalinity (salinization) or waterlogging. There are several physical factors contributing to soil degradation distinguished by the manners in which they change the natural composition and structure of the soil. Degraded soils which result in poor or no production are also called problem soils. It is a serious environmental problem. This is a global problem. Preventing salinization in the first place is thus an environmentally friendly means of offering a solution to soil degradation. Yeast: Origin, Reproduction, Life Cycle and Growth Requirements | Industrial Microbiology, How is Bread Made Step by Step? Hence, there is a necessity for individuals all over the world to respect forest cover and reduce some of the human-driven actions that encourage logging. Cultivation in Steep Slopes July 22, 2012 Footer text here17 18. In India alone, about 188 million hectares or almost 57% of total land area is degraded (Sehgel and Abrol, 1994). A diagrammatic representation of the causes of soil acidity showing the importance of product removal and nitrate leaching in the process . Overgrazing destroys surface crop cover and breaks down soil particles, increasing the rates of soil erosion. However, deforestation can be cut down and this can create an impressive way of reshaping and restoring forests and vegetation cover. When the water dries up, the salts are left on the upper surface as a crust or layer. This is otherwise known as conservation tillage, which means tillage mechanisms targeted at making very minimal changes to the soil’s natural condition and at the same time improving the soil’s productivity. The saline degradation is due to natural causes and poor irrigation practices which disturb the water cycle in areas. Forms of Water Erosion 3. In the broadest sense, it comprises alterations in the soil’s chemical property that determine nutrient availability. A study of the current trends in agronomic practices has suggested that the nutrients deficiency is further aggravated by continued use of high yielding crop varieties, intensive cropping pattern and relatively poor fertilizers. As stated earlier, about 40% of the world’s agricultural land is lost on the account of soil quality depreciation caused by agrochemicals and soil erosion. It is estimated that the Thar Desert is advancing at an alarming rate of around 500 m every year. 15 Exceptional Reasons Why Wildlife Conservation is Important Today, World’s 10 Most Threatened Biodiversity Hotspots, Causes, Effects and Solutions to Overgrazing, Causes, Effects and Solutions to Combat Desertification, Are Condoms Biodegradable? Causes of Soil Degradation Unsustainable Land management Practices i. Deforestation. Welcome to BiologyDiscussion! The main reasons for unproductiveness or degradation of soils are as follows: Most of the Indian soils are deficient in nutrients and organic matter. 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