Climate & Environment

Soil Erosion

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Definition

Soil erosion is the detachment and transport of soil particles by water, wind or tillage, accelerated by vegetation removal, overgrazing, inappropriate cultivation and construction. Erosion rates on conventionally tilled farmland commonly exceed soil formation rates by one to two orders of magnitude; consequences include lost fertility and yields, sedimentation of rivers and reservoirs, and downstream pollution from attached nutrients and pesticides.

References

Source organisationSupporting reference

This reference provides supporting context for how “Soil Erosion” is defined and used.

www.fao.orgBulk import source

Source imported for editorial provenance.

Overview

How it is used

The concept structures conservation agriculture practice, watershed management, sediment control regulation and the universal soil loss equation used in erosion modelling.

Why it matters

Erosion converts the thin living skin of the land into downstream mud; it is the most ancient and most preventable form of land degradation.