Critical Issues of Soil Erosion Problems

territory quality is unrivaled(a) of the most basic and perhaps least understood indicators of bestow health. Soil supports plant growth and represents the living reservoir that buffers the flows of peeing, nutrients, and energy through an ecosystem. The current degradation of the earths fil splendidesss by human action mechanism, particularly agriculture, threatens human potential to feed a growing population. The mavin-year global wearing away nitty-grittys to nearly 36 billion tons, of which 10 billion atomic number 18 out-of-pocket to natural causes and 26 billion are the result of human activity (Crosson et al. 995).The modify or runoff that has been crumble ends up in groundwater, lakes, streams, and rivers. The deposits of exorbitance nastiness and the contaminates in it, cause raise ecological complications. Bodies of water take aim to be dredged and monitored for contamination. Water levels are lowered with the increasing deformity eroded into them, m aking our worlds water supply a commercial enterprise directly related to the wear of acres. The process of brand re youthfuling itself is for the most part unknown. However, there is consensus on the consume for conservation.Evaluating the scope of the problem or predicting the effectuate that various solutions might have on agriculture and the environment is in truth difficult. Degradation is gauged for all state in terms of compaction, eating away, nutrient waiver and sacking of native matter. Soil quality refers to the capacity of a res publica to coif these beneficial functions. Its texture, structure, water-holding capacity, porosity, native matter content, and depth, among other properties determine a marks quality. Because dry lands naturally vary in their capacity to perform these functions, we mustiness tie our fellow feeling of soil quality to graces and land use.We must understand soil quality for two important reasons First, we must check up on our u se and circumspection of land to soil capability. Second, we must establish understanding about soil quality so we tail assembly recognize ongoing trends. If soil quality is st fitted or improving, we have a replete(p) indicator that the ecosystem is sustainable. If soil quality is deteriorating, the larger ecosystem allow almost certainly decline with it (Wilken 1995, Mirzamoatafa et al. 1998). Many conservation efforts are cosmos taken to attend soil corroding. In order to do this a worldwide expression is take aim to measure soil erosion, texture, and the potential for erosion.Soil loss tolerance (T) is the amount of a given soil that can be displaced by water or wind erosion to each one category and be replenished through natural soil regene symmetryn processes. This is a foot for evaluating the adjoins of soil erosion and develops objectives for conservation treatment. Erosion at rates great than T is a special concern because it threatens agricultural sustainab ility. Enrichment Ratios (ER) often use as a measure of the nutrients available for soil. It is a ratio of the inhering potential for soil displacement from erosion to the T limit (Baffaut et al 1998).From 1991 to 1992 in Central Kenyas highlands, these formulas were utilise to monitor runoff, soil loss, and enrichments of eroded soil material. Annual rain was 948 and 1125 mm for 1991 and 1992. Soil loss ranged from 0. 8 to 247. 3 tons, and runoff ranged from 1 to 89 mm. The enrichment ratios (ER) were greater than or equal to 1 and sediments were mostly enriched with P and Na. The P and Na concentrations were 4 to 10 and 2 to 3 times the source material. Sediment from the plots was 247 to 936% richer in P than the soil from which it originated.Too a good deal P can have negative do on the plant and wild behavior surrounding it. Changes in soil pH, percentage organic C, and percentage total N following erosion were significantly jibe with cumulative soil loss (r values of 0. 7 7, 0. 59, and 0. 71, n = 20). The data indicated that the unbalancing of nutrients in the soil is due to erosion, and one of the major causes of soil fertility depletion of Kenyan soils (Gachene et. al. 1997). The Universal Soil Loss equality (USLE) estimates average annual soil loss from sheet and till erosion.The equality is A=RKLSCP, where A is the computed soil loss per unit area, R is a rainfall means, K is a soil erodibility factor, L is a slope length factor, S is a slope degree factor, C is a crop practice factor, and P is a conservation practice factor (Baffaut et al 1998). selective information from erosion plots in Tarija suggest barely moderate rates of erosion (200tons-per. yr. ). Data at 6-min intervals for 41 sites in the tropics of Australia were used to compute the rainfall and runoff factor (R-factor) for the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), and a nonchalant rainfall erosivity model was validated for these tropical sites.Mean annual rainfall varies from ab out 300 mm at Jervois to about 4000 at Tully. For these tropical sites, both rainfall and rainfall erosivity are highly hardenal. The daily erosivity model performed better for the tropical sites with a marked wet season in summer in comparison to model performance in temperate regions of Australia where peak rainfall and peak rainfall erosivity may return in different seasons (Yu 1998). The Wind factor must be considered when evaluating soil erosion. Plant nutrients are transported in crooked sediment.The Wind Erosion Equation (WEQ) is designed to predict long-term average annual soil losings from a field having specific characteristics. The equation is E=f (IKCLV), where E is the estimated average annual soil loss, I is the soil erodibility, K is the ridgepole roughness factor, C is the climatic factor, L is the similar unsheltered distance across the field along the prevailing wind erosion direction, and V is the equivalent vegetative coer (Baffaut et al. 1998). As validati on for the Wind Erosion equation (WEQ) two field sites were established in southern Alberta (one in 1990, one in 1993).At Site 1, total N in windblown sediment trapped at 25-cm height showed an average (13 events) enrichment ratio of 1. 11, composition organic C in windblown sediment showed an average enrichment ratio of only 1. 02 equald with soil from the erodible surface. At Site 2, the average (4 events) total N enrichment ratio was 1. 08 and the average organic C (carbon) enrichment ratio was 1. 05. The results provide bring forward evidence that every effort should be to prevent erosion of the thin layer of surface soil that ensures the future sustainability of agriculture (Baffaut et. al. 1998).These examples of using universal formulas to measure soil erosion allow scientists to evaluate an area and compare efforts that are working else where and apply them to areas were soil erosion is in need of being slightened. During last 40 years, nearly one-third of the world land has been lost by erosion. This loss continues at a rate of more(prenominal) than 10 million hectares per year. The world populations nutrition need is increasing at a time when per capita aliment productivity is generator to decline (Pimentel et al. 1995). If conditions leading to famine are to be avoided, land that assigns food must be preserved.The ecological food web links plants, animals, and spate must live in harmony with the planets water, soil, and atmosphere. once those connections are austered the hunger web begins. To avoid these devastating make, locomote must be taking in all aspects of ecology. The greatest impact of soil erosion is farming practices that are ignorant to overall cause on the food web. The key to farming is to grow enough food for all of your tribe. When towns were made up of small farms this goal was more slowly obtainable. When people stop farming, food production then became an industry where capital takes precedent over soil.Because of gather up and economic reason grangers in the united States are destroying delicate balances in nature and drastically altering the landscape so that soil is at hazard of erosion, and is eroded faster than it can be formed. (Pimentel, Resosudarmo1995) Agricultural practices of cropping and tillage are two important factors that allure runoff and soil losses. Much search had been done to show the effects of different tilling and crop rotations on soil erosion. Doyles (1996) research concluded that between 1982 and 1992 the US improved or at least had no increase in average erosion rates in most areas with extensive cropland.Some of the improvement found was the result of crops being rotated and better tiling methods. Brown (et al 1998) investigated the effects of combining whey and straw in croplands. This research found that straw or whey alone shrivel ups soil loss by 60-85 percent. When combined they reduce soil loss by 96- 98 percent. Ghidey and Alberts (1998) found th rough a study in Kansas that the annual runoff and soil losses from soybean plant cropping were slightly higher than those for corn. These studies and others like them have provided the knowledge of how to prevent further soil erosion.The Conservation Reserve Program pays farmers to remove or fit environmentally sensitive crops to their croplands (Ghidey, Alberts 1998). There are many casualties of stately chemical substance farming erosion, a decline in soil quality, water purity, thinned crop resistance to pests and diseases, and the safety of farm workers. According to US newsworthiness & gentleman Report, 9/14/92, an excess of $4 billion a year is spent on pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides Chemical farmers are still losing about a third of their crops each year to insects, diseases, and weeds.Because of tilling practices, these chemicals used in farming non only effect the food produced and ground water but also the places where the runoff is deposited. Herbicide los s by runoff is a world wide problem. These contaminated runoffs kill a renewing of wildlife, aquatic life forms, and many species of vegetation. An economical and environmental alternative to effected farming is organic crop production. Organic farming is a soil management system that maintains and replenishes soil fertility. Organic foods are produced without the use of artificial pesticides or fertilizers.The strategy behind organic crop production is to produce food crops which are processed, packaged, transported, and stored so as to retain maximum nutritionary value without the use of artificial preservatives, coloring, or other additives. Allowable management techniques include the use of cover crops, manures, and composts for soil fertility management, the use of mulches, exceed or mechanical cultivation, and crop rotation for weed management, and production programming and crop selection for disease and insect management.Organic farming is not as easy or as productive as conventional farming, especially on infertile sandy soils. To be successful, an organic farmer requires a sound knowledge of soil type, crop management and the relative incidence of pests and diseases in different seasons (Arden-Clarke et al 1987). Organic production preferably should be combined with systems not usually used in agriculture much(prenominal) as cover crops and livestock farming. This requires a larger area than the median(prenominal) agricultural holding, which must be chosen carefully. The Department of Agriculture (Elliott et al. 1987) certifies organic production systems.Certification involves the development of an organic plan for the operation, the plan to be evaluated and approved by an accredited agent, and the agreement of the farmer to abide by the list of approved substances. The organic agent also reviews soil and water tests, crop histories, production, and rotation plans. The area in which organic crops are to be grown must be chemical free for 3 y ears. They ramble compliance with standards through annual and spot inspections, and record keeping requirements (Elliott et al. 1987). Consumers are demanding organically grown fruit and vegetables, and are willing to pay a higher price.The sales of organic products have increased from $178 million to over $4 billion in 1998, and is growing in excess of 20% per year. These operations will focus on the production of lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers (Us News &World 1998). There is a demand for certified organic vegetables, especially with the new health sureness of the public. As with any type of farming, there is the risk of unfavorable weather and invasive pests, which could, reduced a seasons crop. Economics may be a large controlling factor for soil erosion. . When demand for grain increases, and supply decreases, price for food will increase.Americans can afford to pay a few cents extra for bread, cater food, and rice but poorer countries will suffer when food becomes too exp ensive. Although the get together States has been referred to as the bread basket of the world because of our impressive food production, our story constituted prolific amounts of soil erosion. During the 1930s dust clouds forced people from their homes, killed humans and animals alike, and caused snow in Vermont to be black. Agricultural economists are aware that severely eroded soils are less productiveif too much soil is lost, the next planting and harvest are delayed.Soils are less productive if crop planting has to be delayed. Instead of harvesting quint times in one season, farmers might only reap trey. gravely eroded soils have deficiencies in nutrient, bacteria, alterations in structure, and decreased resistance to pests. interminably planting row crops, corn for example, can cause severe soil loss. Sustainable agriculture can prevent or lessen soil erosion and ensure higher productivity (Gardner 1996). Our countys high demand for grain forces farmers to over work thei r land. The demand for this grain and the human function of grown vegetation are not the only factors leading to soil erosion.The shout industry and our consumption of red meat impacts soil erosion as well. Of the total amount of grain that is grown in the US, 80% of it is fed to livestock. To support our meat centered diet, 260 million acres of U. S. lumber must be cleared to create cropland for livestock (Gardner1996). Costa Rican produced beef is even more devastating to the environment. For every ? lb. of Costa Rican beef made, one acre of Costa Rican rainforest must be destroyed. This devastation is worsened by the deaths of all the plant and animal species that occur due to habitat loss (Gardner1996).Because of the above reasons and several(prenominal) other moral, nutritional, and economical reasons, beef consumption is unskilled for the environment. Every individual who switches to a purely vegetarian diet (Gardner1996) spares one acre of trees each year. The factor of a gricultural practices on soil erosion becomes more severe when forests, grasslands, and wetlands are destroyed. Roots from trees in forests, grasslands, and wetlands stabilize soil not only by holding earth, but also by intercepting precipitation, dispersing energy of raindrops, and by increasing infiltration and reducing runoff (Smith 1998).Native Americans have used good agriculture practices for years. American Indians had respect for the land and all of its life forms. One of their cultural beliefs about farming is centered on the three sisters corn, squash, and beans. The corn provides a stalk for beans to climb. Beans produce nitrogen that fertilizes the corn. And squash protects the soil and corn roots from the sun, traps moisture, and prevents erosion. All three plants provide edible food, date preserving soil. (Wilken 1995)It is essential to the survival of the human race, and all other life forms that several forms of soil conservation practices are used. There is a finit e amount of food that our country can produce before our production starts to decrease. Although erosion is a natural process, humans have found several supernatural ways to make soil erosion more severe. To be able to continue to feed the growing population and preserve the species diversity of wildlife and plants we need to have sustainable agriculture practices and soil conservation these efforts are essential in the prevention of extensive soil erosion.