structural deterioration of soil

Question 1

what is structural deterioration?

Answer 1

the loss of the structure of the soil

Question 2

why might structural deterioration occur?

Answer 2

livestock can trample on the ground so it gets compacted

removing crops to clear agricultural land can disrupt the structure

farming machinery can cause soil compaction

Question 3

what issues can structural deterioration cause for agriculture?

Answer 3

water cant infiltrate due o lack of space in the soil so plants become dehydrated

root cells need air to survive but the deterioration removes air pockets suffocating the roots

roots cant infiltrate compacted soil

soil is harder to work with once its been deteriorated eg ploughing