Causes Of Soil Degradation And Erosion Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the types of soil erosion?

A

Rain splash
Wind blow
Surface run-off

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2
Q

What natural features reduce erosion?

A

Vegetation
Soil organic matter
High infiltration rate

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3
Q

What can be used to estimate soil erosion rates

A

The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)

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4
Q

What can soil erosion lead to

A

Desertification

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5
Q

What is desertification

A

The process of which fertile land becomes desert

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6
Q

What is soil erosion

A

The removal of particles of soil due to wind, water or movement of animals

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7
Q

What would rate erosion be equal to without humans

A

Rate of formation
Humans activities increased erosion along rate

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8
Q

What is rain splash?

A

Where soil particles are dislodged by the splash of a raindrop
The soil will travel in all directions down hill will go further due to gravity

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9
Q

What is surface runoff erosion

A

Occurs when the soil cannot store anymore water so water cannot infiltrate this causes water to run over the surface taking soil with it

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10
Q

What is wind blow?

A

Dry soils in arid areas can be picked up and carried by the wind size of soil particle affects movement

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11
Q

Where does wind blow usually occur

A

In dry arid areas
Areas undergoing desterification
Areas with little to no vegetation (no roots to bind the soil)
Little clay content- not much holding the soil together

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12
Q

What happens to fine soil particles (wind blow)?

A

Fine particles are carried through the air

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13
Q

What happens to medium particles (wind blow)

A

Medium particles skip or bounce not light enough to float but not so heavy that they roll

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14
Q

What happens to large particles (wind blow)?

A

Large particle slide or roll (as wind energy isn’t powerful to cause significant movement)

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15
Q

How can the presence of vegetation reduce soil erosion?

A

It means less water reaches the soil and is either intercepted by living plants or the leaf litter acts like a shield and reduce rain splash and the amount of soil taken away
Acts as a natural windbreak slowing down wind and reducing wind erosion
Roots bind soil holding it together

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16
Q

How does increasing soil organic matter reduce soil erosion?

A

Organic matter causes soil to clump and form soil aggregates, which improves soil structure. With better soil structure, permeability (infiltration of water through the soil) improves, in turn improving the soil’s ability to take up and hold water.

17
Q

What is the equation for USLE

A

R x K x L x S x C x P = erosion rate (A)

18
Q

What is R in the USLE

A

Rainfall erosivity factor

19
Q

What is K on USLE

A

Soil erodibility factor

20
Q

What is L on the USLE

A

Slope length factor

21
Q

What is S on USLE

A

Slope gradient factor

22
Q

What is C on USLE

A

Cropping management factor

23
Q

What is P on the USLE

A

Erosion prevention factor

24
Q

What is aggerate?

A

soil particles that have joined together