Geology

Soil Degradation

Soil Degradation

Soil degradation is the decline in soil form caused by its offensive use or poor supervision, generally for agricultural, industrial, or urban purposes. In a broad sense, soil degradation can be defined as the decline in soil fertility, when the nutritional status declines and depth of the soil go down due to erosion and misuse. Soil degradation is the main factor leading to the depleting soil resource base in India. The degree of soil degradation varies from place to place according to the topography, wind velocity, and amount of the rainfall. The primary causes are:

  • Deforestation
  • Overgrazing
  • Overexploitation for fuelwood
  • Agricultural activities
  • Increased flooding

Soil degradation examples contain turn down in soil productiveness, adverse changes in alkalinity, acidity or salinity, tremendous flooding, use of toxic soil pollutants, erosion, and worsening of the soil’s structural form. It is a serious environmental problem. Soils are a fundamental natural resource and are the basis for all terrestrial life. Avoiding soil degradation is crucial to our well-being. The significance of it’s among worldwide issues is improved because of its impact on world food safety and superiority of the environment.