What is defforestation how does deforestation leads to a decrease in water holding capacity of the soil?
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
Deforestation means clearing the forest cover and cutting down of trees. Deforestation reduces rainfall. The cloud formation for rain depends on the water lost by the plants through transpiration and evaporation. So when the number of trees is reduced, there is a decrease in humidity. So proper cloud formation does not occur. Hence, rainfall is reduced.
On the other hand, the water holding capacity of the soil is adversely affected by the reduction in some trees. The soil structure also changes. The roots of trees grown deep into the land and firmly bind the soil particles together. When there is heavy rainfall, the water does not seep down into the ground and is not absorbed by the tress. Hence, it flows out and leads to flooding.