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How soil is formed? What is soil erosion? What are the reasons of soil erosion & how it can be controlled?

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It is the uppermost layer of the Earth which is made up of minerals and degraded organic matter and it is formed by the weathering of the rocks. The soil plays important role in the growth of vegetation by providing water, place and nutrients.

The soil includes inorganic minerals, organic matter, air, water and parts of various organisms. Normally, it contains 40% minerals components, 10% organic matter, 25% soil water & 25% soil air.

Both the formation of soil and soil erosion occur continuously and normally they balance each other. However, uncontrolled deforestation, cattle grazing, urban sprawl cause soil erosion that lead to desertification.

Soil erosion refers to the wearing away of a field’s topsoil by natural or man created factors. The major causes of soil erosion are as follows :

  • Soil erosion by water : This erosion is caused by both fresh water & sea water.
    (a) Soil Erosion by fresh water : It is caused by rivers, springs, waves etc. It is of three types viz.-
  1. Diverian erosion : Erosion caused by heavy rainfall and sudden dam breaking.
  2. Sheet erosion : Erosion that removes surface material (soil) evenly from an extensive area.
  3. Gully erosion : Removal of soil along drainage lines by surface water runoff.
    (b) Soil Erosion by marine water : This erosion is caused by waves, tides etc.
  • Soil Erosion by Air (wind) : It occurs normally in desert regions. The wind detaches soil particles from the land surface which than transported / shifted by wind.

Soil Conservation and Management :
It deals mainly to prevent soil erosion. It can be performed using following two methods viz:-

  1. Biological Method : It involves cultivation of new forests and maintenance of old forests.
  2. Mechanical Method : It involves formation of contour dams & drainage canals in slope regions. Loss of soil (Erosion) can also be prevented by-
  • Crop rotation, cover crop, conservation tillage and planted windbreaks.
  • Contour ploughing and planting trees on the slopes.
  • Formation of soil barriers surrounding the small farms.
  • Prevention of uncontrolled grazing.
  • Prevention of excavation in mountains.

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