Soil Erosion

Soil Erosion is the removal of soil by the forces of nature like wind and water.There are mainly 3 types of formation of soil erosion , they are:

1.Sheet Erosion:When the top layer of the soil is removed over a large area by running water , it is called sheet erosion.

2.Rill Erosion:This is the second stage of sheet erosion.If erosion continues unchecked for a sufficient time , rills/small finger-like grooves which are few centimeters in depth may develop on the landscape.Over a period of time , the fine rills increase in number and become deeper and wider , and resemble the branches,twigs of a tree.This is called rill erosion.

3.Gully Erosion:This is the third stage of sheet erosion.With further erosion of the soil , the rills may deepen and become enlarged , and are ultimately turned into gullies.This main cause of gully erosion is the removal of vegetation , particularly of trees with their widespread binding roots.Gullies cut up agricultural land and the entire area may be turned into bad land topography.Gully Erosion is also responsible for formation of ravines.

Methods for prevention of soil erosion:

1.Crop rotation

2.Settled agriculture

3.Terracing and contour bending

4.Shelter belts and strip cropping