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Definition of soil degradation

Updated: 8/11/2023
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11y ago

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Soil degradation is when soil deteriorates because of human activity and loses its quality and productivity. It happens when soil loses its nutrients, or its organic matter. It also happens when the soil structure breaks down, or if the soil becomes toxic from pollution.

The primary cause of soil degradation is erosion, but compaction, salinization, and depletion by nutrient demanding crops may also cause degradation.

Soil degradation is which the movement of soil particles from one place to another by wind or water, is considered to be a major environmental problem. Erosion has been going on through most of earth's history and has produced river valleys and shaped hills and mountains. Such erosion is generally slow, but the action of man has caused a rapid increase in the rate at which soil is eroded (ie. a rate faster than natural weathering of bedrock can produce new soil).

This has resulted in a loss of productive soil from crop and grazing land, as well as layers of infertile soils being deposited on formerly fertile crop lands; the formation of gullies; siltation of lakes and streams; and land slips. Man has the capacity for major destruction of our landscape and soil resources. Hopefully he also has the ability to prevent and overcome these problems.

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12y ago
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Wiki User

11y ago

Soil degradation is when soil deteriorates because of human activity and loses its quality and productivity. It happens when soil loses its nutrients, or its organic matter. It also happens when the soil structure breaks down, or if the soil becomes toxic from pollution.

Simply, it is the breakdown of soil particles.

Degradation is not the same as soil erosion, which is when the soil is washed or blown away by water or wind. Soil erosion is common when trees are cut down, and then it rains, so the soil is moved somewhere else (sometimes to the sea/ocean/river). Trees and their root systems keep the soil in place and thus prevent soil erosion.

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brianyufenyuy15

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2y ago

It is when soil losses it quality

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Q: Definition of soil degradation
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Related questions

What are the causes of degradation of soil?

Human activity is the main cause of soil degradation. Agriculture plays a large part in soil degradation, especially clearing, irrigation, the spreading of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, overgrazing and even the passage of heavy farming equipment. Tillage and the clearing and deforestation of large plots of land also lead to soil degradation. Improper drainage in agricultural fields also contributes to soil degradation.


What is responsible for most soil degradation in the prairies of the United states?

Heavy rains are responsible for most soil degradation in the prairies of the United states. There are not enough plants to keep the soil in place.


What are 4 major causes of soil degradation?

Soil erosion and depletion are the major threats to soil as a resource. Both human and natural factors can lead to degradation of soils . Factors which lead to soil degradation are deforestation, overgrazing, overuse of chemical fertilisers or pesticides, rain wash, landslides and floods.


What is the difference between land degradation and soil erosion?

Land degradation is the land that is being degraded in some form that is negative. Soil erosion is when rock and soil is removed from one location of land to another.


What Is responsible for The most soil degradation in the prairie of the US?

erosion


What is responsible of most soil degradation in the prairies of the US?

erosion


What are the Plato answers for world geography 1?

Soil degradation


What is responsible for the most soil degradation in the Prairies of US?

erosion


Why is land degradation is not a good indication for the future?

land degradation causes soil errosion which further lead to drought and desertification.


Pictures on the effects of land degradation?

Go to google images and type 'effects of land degradation' or just 'land degradation' and you should get what you want. You can also type in things like removal of topsoil & mudslides because they come under soil erosion and soil erosion. Soil erosion is a factor of land degradation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_degradation This website has effects of land degradation. You can also type a few of those effects in google images.


How big is the range of soil degradation observed between continents?

about 15%.


What is responsible for the most soil degradation in the prairies of the United states?

Erosion A+