Q.3. Write a short note on:
(a) Soil erosion
(b) Desertification
Ans. (a) Soil Erosion: Soil erosion is defined as the wearing away of topsoil. Topsoil is the top layer of soil and is the most fertile because it contains the most organic, nutrient-rich materials. The most common forms of soil erosion are by wind and water. A few causes for soil erosion are:
(i) Deforestation: Deforestation refers to the cutting down of trees to use the land for alternative purposes Such acts lead the top layer of soil being exposed to agents like water and wind.
(ii) Floods: Heavy flow of water leads to soil erosion and thus results in reduced productivity of the land.
(iii) Steep Slopes: Slopes results in erosion as water flows easily and makes it simple to erode soil. For example, there is heavy soil erosion in the Himalayas and the Western Ghats.
(iv) Idle Land: If the land isn't used for any purpose, it leads to soil erosion.
Ans. (b) Desertification: The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture. It is caused by a variety of factors, such as climate change (particularly current global warming) and overexploitation of soil through human activity. A few other important cause of desertification are:
- Overgrazing
- Climate change
- Urbanization and industrialization
Reverse desertification: The steps taken to reverse the effects of desertification are termed as reverse Preventive actions like integrating land and water management to protect soils from erosion, salinization, and other forms of degradation Protecting the vegetative cover, which can be a major instrument for soil conservation against wind and water erosion.
Comments
Post a Comment