Causes of Soil Degradation and Erosion

Soil degradation

Pollution - The introduction of harmful substances into soil can degrade its quality. This includes chemical pollution from industrial wastes, oil spills, and synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
Monoculture - Planting a single crop (monoculture) can deplete the soil of specific nutrients, causing degradation.
Intensive farming - Over-farming can contribute to soil degradation by exhausting soil nutrients. More often than not, this results in the need for synthetic fertilisers, which can harm the soil’s natural biology and fertility.
Overgrazing - Too many animals grazing can wear away plant cover, exposing vulnerable soil.
Urbanisation - Construction of infrastructure and buildings can cause soil degradation by sealing off soil and interrupting its natural regeneration cycle.
Climate change - Changes in climatic patterns – such as increased temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events – can accelerate soil degradation.

Soil Erosion

Water erosion - This happens when soil particles are detached, transported, and deposited elsewhere due to the action of rainfall and surface run-off. Heavy rainstorms and inappropriate irrigation in agricultural lands are common causes.
Wind erosion - Soil particles can be picked up and carried away by the wind, especially in arid regions or places with sparse vegetative cover.
Tillage erosion - This type of erosion takes place due to the downhill displacement of soil during ploughing or tillage.
Soil compaction - Densified soil due to heavy machinery or overgrazing can lead to enhanced surface run-off, therefore, increased soil erosion.
Alterations of the natural vegetation - Removal or destruction of the plant cover, whether due to deforestation, inappropriate agricultural practices, or wildfires, can increase soil susceptibility to wind and water erosion. Plants usually act as a protective cover and their roots help to bind the soil together.