Revision: Caring for Our Basic Resources >> Caring for Our Soil Environmental Applications (English Medium) ICSE Class 10 CISCE

The loss of soil or disturbance of the soil structure is called soil erosion.

• High population pressure on land leads to deforestation and overuse of land, which is a major cause of soil erosion in India.
• Nature of rainfall in India—heavy monsoon rains and frequent droughts—causes floods and washing away of fertile topsoil.
• Overgrazing by cattle removes vegetation cover, leaving soil exposed to wind and water erosion, especially in Rajasthan.
• Bad farming practices like lack of terracing, contour ploughing, crop rotation, and improper use of manure increase soil erosion.
• Steep slopes and deforestation in hilly regions such as the Shiwaliks, Himalayas, and parts of South India make these areas highly prone to soil erosion.

• Soil erosion is the removal of the top fertile layer of soil by water, wind, and human activities.
• Soil erosion by water includes sheet erosion, rill erosion, gully erosion, leaching, sea erosion, and stream-bank erosion.
• Wind erosion occurs in dry and semi-arid regions where loose soil is carried away by strong winds, reducing soil fertility.
• Human activities such as deforestation, overgrazing, improper farming, and shifting cultivation greatly increase soil erosion.
• Soil erosion reduces agricultural productivity, leads to land degradation, and creates a cycle of poverty.

• Soil conservation means protecting soil from erosion and maintaining its fertility.
• Soil erosion causes loss of fertile topsoil, leading to reduced agricultural productivity.
• Soil conservation helps maintain soil moisture and raise the groundwater level.
• It prevents silting of rivers, floods, droughts, and landslides, especially in hilly areas.
• Soil conservation is essential because soil forms very slowly but can be destroyed quickly, and it supports plants, animals, and human life.