Question

What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in the hilly areas?

Answer 1

Well developed terrace farming is found in Central and Western Himalayas.

• Soil erosion is restricted through Terrace cultivation.
• Terraces are created by cutting out steps on the slopes.
• Contour ploughing is used to prevent soil erosion along slopes.

Soil erosion is nothing but washing down of the soil due to the denudation of the soil cover.

• Soil erosion and formation happens simultaneously and in some cases there will be a balance between the two.
• The natural reasons behind soil erosion are natural forces like water, wind, glaciers.
• This balance is disturbed due to various reasons caused by human activities like mining, construction activities, overgrazing, deforestation etc.
• Defective methods of farming also play a role in soil erosion.
• Ploughing up and down the slope in a wrong way leads to creation of channels thereby leading to quick flow of water which ultimately leads to soil erosion.