Question

How do the following lead to soil erosion?

1. Heavy rain
2. Uncontrolled grazing
3. Shifting cultivation

Answer 1

Soil erosion:

1. It is the washing off of the fertile topsoil leading to a reduction in the fertility of the soil.

Reasons for soil erosion:

1. Heavy Rain- The heavy rain washes away the topsoil, which is the most fertile layer and as a result, all the soil nutrients get washed away causing soil erosion.
2. Uncontrolled Grazing- The animals graze the top layers of the soil till the tiniest shoot and uncover the soil exposing it to high temperature, heavy rain, and other chemicals as a result the soil losses fertility and the land becomes barren.
3. Shifting Cultivation- The farmer burns the land after their cultivation as the land becomes unfit for cultivation. Thus, the soil losses its fertility, the nutrients are lost, the ashes from the burn cover the top layer of the soil, the soil shows high soil pH and the land becomes barren.