P&E - Soil Problems

Question 1

what are the types of soil erosion?

Answer 1

water and wind erosion

Question 2

what is water erosion? (give an example)

Answer 2

• soil being degraded due to water
  riverbank erosion = riverbank sides are eroded due to passing water, which erodes agricultural land surrounding the river

Question 3

what are some causes of water erosion?

Answer 3

lack of interception, topography of the catchment, poor irrigation

Question 4

what is wind erosion?

Answer 4

wind blows away the fertile topsoil

Question 5

what causes wind erosion?

Answer 5

overgrazing or overcultivation (strips the soil of the vegetation roots which hold it together)

Question 6

what are the types of transportation that occurs during wind erosion

Answer 6

soil creep - larger particles roll along the ground
saltation - smaller particles bounce on the ground
suspension - tiny soil particles are carried in the air

Question 7

what is water logging?

Answer 7

when the soil is oversaturated, and no longer holds an oxygen, which means that plants cant respire

Question 8

what causes water logging?

Answer 8

flooding, heavy rainfall

Question 9

what is structural deterioration?

Answer 9

soil loses its structure, primarily by losing its pores

Question 10

what causes structural deterioration?

Answer 10

livestock trampling and machinery can lead to soil compaction (pores close)

Question 11

what is salinisation?

Answer 11

saltwater rises to the surface of the soil and evaporates, leaving behind a layer of salt crystals

Question 12

what is desertification?

Answer 12

fertile land become dry and desert like, becoming unusable

Question 13

what causes desertification?

Answer 13

• lack of rainfall
• high temperatures
• overgrazing
• overcultivation

Question 14

soil management strategies

Answer 14

• cover crops = crops that are planted to protect bare soil from erosion
• controlled irrigation and effective drainage strategies
• moving livestock in order to prevent overgrazing and soil compaction