Soil Erosion

 In soil and water conservation, the agronomical measure is a more economical, long-lasting, and effective technique. Agronomic conservation measures function by reducing the impact of raindrops through interception and thus reducing soil erosion. They also increase infiltration rates and thereby reduce surface runoff. Widely used agronomic measures for water erosion control are listed below. Contour Cropping: Contour Cropping is a conservation farming method that is used on slopes to control soil losses due to water erosion. Contour cropping involves planting crops across the slope instead of up and down the slope. Cover crops: Close growing crops such as grass, legumes, or small grains. Strip Cropping The practice of growing protective crops and row crops in alternate strips on the contours. Vegetative barriers: Also called buffer strip cropping on steep slopes. Mulching Mulches are used to minimize rain splash, reduce evaporation, control weeds, reduce the temperature of the soi...

 There are three steps for accelerated erosion by water: i) Detachment or loosening of soil particles caused by flowing water, freezing and thawing of the topsoil, and/or the impact of falling raindrops. Rain splash is the most important detaching agent. ii) Transportation of soil particles by floating, rolling, dragging, and/or splashing and iii) Deposition of transported particles at some places of lower elevation. Types of Water Erosion Water erosion can be classified as splash erosion, sheet erosion, rill erosion, gully erosion, stream bank erosion, sea-shore erosion, and landslide erosion. They are discussed as follows. 1. Splash Erosion: A falling raindrop is capable of generating a force equals to almost 14 times its weight. It is also known as raindrop erosion because it is caused by the impact of raindrops on the exposed soil surface. Most important detaching agent. A raindrop produces three important effects during splash erosion, i) beating action breaks down soil aggreg...

 It is the removal of soil from the land surface by water, including runoff from melted snow and ice and is one of the major causes of soil degradation. Water erosion has been sub-divided into various types in relation to the progressive concentration of surface runoff. Erosion of soil by water is caused by its two forms: liquid as the flowing water, and solid as the glaciers. Forms of Water Erosion The impact of rainfall causes splash erosion. Runoff water causes scraping and transport of soil particles leading to sheet, rill, and gully erosion. Water waves cause erosion of the banks' sides of reservoirs, lakes, and oceans. The subsurface runoff causes soil erosion in the form of pipe erosion, which is also called tunnel erosion. The glacial erosion causes heavy landslides. In India, glacial erosions are mainly confined to the Himalayan regions. The various forms of water erosion are given below. 1. Hydraulic Action: The hydraulic action takes place when water runs over the soil s...

 The word erosion has been derived from the Latin word „erodere‟ which means eating away or to excavate. The word erosion was first used in geology for describing the term hollow created by water. Soil Erosion is defined as the detachment of soil particles, their transportation from one place to another, and deposition elsewhere through water, wind, coastal waves, snow, gravity, and other forces. It is a two-phase process involving the detachment of individual soil particles from soil mass, transporting it from one place to another (by the action of any one of the agents of erosion, viz; water, wind, ice, or gravity) and its deposition. When sufficient energy is not available to transport a particle, a third phase known as deposition occurs. In general, finer soil particles get eroded more easily than coarse particles (silt is more easily eroded than sand). Major erosive agents are impacting raindrops and runoff water flowing over the soil surface. Types of Soil Erosion According t...