what are effects of erosion
Answers
The Effects of Soil Erosion. Soil erosion is the weathering away of topsoil caused by water, wind or tillage. Pesticides and other chemicals can get trapped in soil, polluting streams and rivers as the soil breaks apart.
understanding of the impact of soil erosion on-site. When the topsoil is eroded from an area, that area loses its most nutrient-rich layer, and therefore soil quality is reduced.
Poor soil quality means smaller crop yields and may even wash away seeds and small plants. This may call for more of a need for artificial fertilizers and pesticides, which can run off of fields and contaminate waterways. Also, when the organic matter that is found within the top layer of soil is removed, it can weaken the soil's ability to hold water, leaving the field susceptible to weather conditions such as droughts.
The soil that is carried away has to go somewhere, and this leads to off-site problems. As mentioned, when soil is carried away from a farmer's field by water, it carries with it contaminants, such as fertilizers and pesticides. This runoff can cause water pollution that contaminates drinking water and disrupts ecosystems of lakes and wetlands. This negatively impacts the fish and wildlife that depend on these downstream waters for food and habitat. Sediments that accumulate down slope of the erosion can obstruct the flow of water in streams and drainage canals, leading to flooding