Question

In what different ways is land degradation caused

Answer 1

Land degradation is a global problem largely related to agricultural use. Causes include:

Land clearance, such as clearcutting and deforestation

Agricultural depletion of soil nutrientsthrough poor farming practices

Livestock including overgrazing and overdrafting

Inappropriate irrigation[7] and overdrafting

Urban sprawl and commercial development

Vehicle off-roading

Quarrying of stone, sand, ore and minerals

Increase in field size due to economies of scale, reducing shelter for wildlife, as hedgerows and copses disappear

Exposure of naked soil after harvesting by heavy equipment

Monoculture, destabilizing the local ecosystem

Dumping of non-biodegradable trash, such as plastics

Invasive Species

Soil degradation, e.g.

Soil contamination

Soil erosion

Soil acidification

Loss of soil carbon

Answer 2

In addition to the usual types of land degradation that have been known for centuries (water, wind and mechanical erosion, physical, chemical and biological degradation), four other types have emerged in the last 50 years:[6]

pollution, often chemical, due to agricultural, industrial, mining or commercial activities;

loss of arable land due to urban construction, road building, land conversion, agricultural expansion, etc.;

artificial radioactivity, sometimes accidental;

land-use constraints associated with armed conflicts.