Science

Soil Erosion
Soil Erosion

 It is the washing away of the top fertile soil.

 Running water and blowing wind usually carries away the soil.

Bad Things Running Water Does To The Soil

 - Running water loosens top soil and takes it to other places.
 - Running water causes gulling and streams.
 - Running water carries fertile soil.
 - Running water leaves poor rocky or stoney soils behind.

Bad Things Wind Does To The Soil

 - Wind moves soil particles from one place to the other.
 - A dusty cloud shows that wind is carrying away soil particles.
 - Wind blows away fertile topsoil leaving poor soils.
 Causes of Soil Erosion
Some of the following things make it easy for soil to get carried away.

- Cutting Down Trees

Plants cover and protect the soil from being carried away.

- Boots and Veld Fires

If the plants are burnt, plants die and leave the soil bare.

- Overstocking
~Keeping many animals in a small place is called over stalking.
~Too many animals eat a lot of grass and that leaves very little to cover the
soil.
~When animals eat a lot of grass and leave a little, we say the land is
overgrazed.

Ploughing Up and Down The Slope

- If we plough up and down the slope, the plough will make it easier for water
to flow.
 Effects of Soil Erosion on Our Environment
- Top fertile soil is lost and plants grow poorly.
- Gullies appear all over the environment.
- Dams and rivers are filled with mud.
- Not enough grass grows to support the animals.
- Rocky land appears.

 Soil Conservation
- Taking care of something that it will not be destroyed is called conservation.
 Soil can be conserved by;
- Not cutting down trees or burning grass. Trees and plants protect the soil
from being washed away.
- We can plant more trees and shrubs.
- We should not let too many animals graze in an area.
- We can add compost or manure to the soil before we plant crops. This will
keep the soil healthy.