Name the factors that influence soil erosion. [2 MARKS]
Soil erosion is a gradual process that occurs when the impact of water or wind detaches and removes soil particles, causing the soil to deteriorate.
Factors affecting soil erosion-
RAINFALL:
Consistent heavy rains usually cause erosion of soil at a faster rate. However, low rainfall may reduce the rate at which erosion takes place.
TOPOGRAPHY:
It refers to the extent to which a land slopes. Some lands have gentle slopes where the slope is not to a greater extent while other lands may have a steep slope where the slope is to a greater extent. Usually, lands with steep slopes tend to be severely affected by soil erosion.
PRESENCE OF ORGANIC MATTER IN SOIL:
Organic matter binds loose soil particles together making it stronger enough to resist erosion by water. Consequently, the higher the organic matter content, the more difficult it is for soil to be eroded and vice versa.
HUMAN ACTIVITIES:
Certain human activities expose soil to impact from agents of erosion. Some of these human activities are bad farming practices, sand winning, quarrying, road construction, construction of houses, deforestation, burning of vegetation, plowing sloped lands, etc. all these activities make the erosion of soil easier.
OVERGRAZING:
Excessive feeding on vegetation grass by cattle exposes soil beneath to easy erosion.
DEFORESTATION:
The cutting down of trees and removal of vegetation exposes soil to erosion more easily. Soil experiences direct impact from rainwater or from the wind.
Soil erosion is a gradual process that occurs when the impact of water or wind detaches and removes soil particles, causing the soil to deteriorate.
Factors affecting soil erosion-
RAINFALL:
Consistent heavy rains usually cause erosion of soil at a faster rate. However, low rainfall may reduce the rate at which erosion takes place.
TOPOGRAPHY:
It refers to the extent to which a land slopes. Some lands have gentle slopes where the slope is not to a greater extent while other lands may have a steep slope where the slope is to a greater extent. Usually, lands with steep slopes tend to be severely affected by soil erosion.
PRESENCE OF ORGANIC MATTER IN SOIL:
Organic matter binds loose soil particles together making it stronger enough to resist erosion by water. Consequently, the higher the organic matter content, the more difficult it is for soil to be eroded and vice versa.
HUMAN ACTIVITIES:
Certain human activities expose soil to impact from agents of erosion. Some of these human activities are bad farming practices, sand winning, quarrying, road construction, construction of houses, deforestation, burning of vegetation, plowing sloped lands, etc. all these activities make the erosion of soil easier.
OVERGRAZING:
Excessive feeding on vegetation grass by cattle exposes soil beneath to easy erosion.
DEFORESTATION:
The cutting down of trees and removal of vegetation exposes soil to erosion more easily. Soil experiences direct impact from rainwater or from the wind.
