how does water erosion create issues for agriculture Flashcards
what is water erosion?
the degradation and wearing away of soil due to water
why can water erosion occur?
climatic factors (flooding heavy rainfall)
lack of trees/interception
topography
agricultural practices (poor irrigation, removal of plants)
what is sheet erosion?
the washing away of soil in a uniform matter leading to the widespread of removal of topsoil can be caused by heavy rainfall and flooding
what are rills?
small streams that develop by erosional flowing water
often developed on slopes as water flows naturally due to gravity
what can rills develop into? and what are washed away here?
gullies which are large ravines and large amounts of soil and nutrients are washed away through this type of erosion
what is riverbank erosion?
the degradation of riverbank sides causing large sections of the bank to be eroded away
what is an example of where riverbank erosion has taken place?
brahmaputra in asia
what issues does water erosion create for agriculture?
soil washed away means crops become unstable and some crops are washed away too
nutrients are washed away effecting plant growth
weeds can spread from other areas if carried in water reducing productivity of a farm
rills and gullies can obstruct farming equipment reducing the amount of agricultural land and causing potential dangers
