Fundamentals of Soil Science | Henry Foth

SOIL EROSION|
Sabac & Saldaña
OBJECTIVES
To be able to understand the definition
of Soil Formation and Soil Erosion.

To understand the causes of erosion.

Be able to identify the two types of

erosion.

Determine the rate of erosion using the

Universal Soil Loss Equation.

Be able to explain common erosion

conservation and control practices.
INTRODUCTION
Soil formation and soil erosion are two natural
and opposing processes. Many natural,
undisturbed soils have a rate of formation that is
balanced by a rate of erosion. Under these
conditions, the soil appears to remain in a
constant state as the landscape evolves.
Generally, the rates of soil erosion are low unless
the soil surface is exposed directly to the wind
and rainwater. The erosion problem arises when
the natural vegetative cover is removed and
rates of soil erosion are greatly accelerated.

SOIL EROSION
 SOIL EROSION PROCESS
THREE - STEP P R OCESS

DETACHMENT TRANSPORT DEPOSITION

This action This action This action

dislodges the carries soil deposits the
particles from the particles in the sediment when
soil by the impact moving wind or the wind and
energy of the rain water. water energy
or wind. subsides.

SOIL EROSION
SOIL FORMATION
Soil formation, or the
development of soils that are
natural bodies, includes two
broad processes.
First is the formation of a parent
material from which the soil evolves
and, second, the evolution of soil
layers,
Approximately 99 percent of the world's
soils develop in mineral parent material
that was or is derived from the
weathering of bedrock.

SOIL FORMATION
SOIL EROSION
Soil erosion is a
naturally occurring
process that affects all
landforms.
In agriculture, soil erosion refers to the
wearing away of a field's topsoil by the
natural physical forces of water and wind
or through forces associated with
farming activities such as tillage.

SOIL EROSION
WATER EROSION
The breakdown of solid rock into
smaller particles and its removal
by water.

TWO TYPES OF SOIL EROSION

WIND EROSION
The term wind erosion refers to
the damage of land as a result of
wind removing soil from an area.

SOIL EROSION
WATER EROSION
Definition | Types | Factors | Predicting Water
Erosion Rates

SOIL EROSION
DEFINITION
Water Erosion

Water erosion is the detachment and removal of soil material by water. The
process may be natural or accelerated by human activity. The rate of erosion
may be very slow to very rapid, depending on the soil, the local landscape,
and weather conditions.
Several types of water erosion have been identified: raindrop (splash),
sheet, rill, and gully or channel.
TYPES
Water Erosion

Raindrops falling on bare soil detach

particles and splash them up into the
air. When there is little water at the soil
surface, the water tends to run over the
soil surface as a thin sheet
TYPES
Water Erosion

Raindrops falling on bare soil detach

particles and splash them up into the
air. When there is little water at the soil
surface, the water tends to run over the
soil surface as a thin sheet
TYPES
Water Erosion

Large concentrations of water lead to

gully formation. Some of the highest soil
erosion rates occur at construction sites
where the vegetation has been removed
and the soil is exposed to the erosive
effects of rain.
ILLUSTRATION

SOIL SCIENCE
FACTORS
Water Erosion

The amount of erosion caused by water is dependent on four factors.

Large concentrations of water lead to

gully formation. Some of the highest soil
erosion rates occur at construction sites
where the vegetation has been removed
and the soil is exposed to the erosive
Climate Soil Vegetation Topography
effects of rain.
FACTORS
Water Erosion

The impact of climate is related to

the amount and the intensity of
rain.
(The greater the annual rainfall—the greater
the potential for water erosion; and as the
frequency of intense storms increases—the
greater the potential for water erosion.)
FACTORS
Water Erosion

The contribution of soil to erosion

relates to the size of the soil particles
and the moisture content of the soil.
•Sandy and organic soils have the greatest
potential for water erosion. These soils are not
bound together, especially when wet, and the
soil particles are easily moved.)
FACTORS
Water Erosion

Vegetation plays an important role in

water erosion.
It reduces the energy of the raindrops striking
the soil, in turn reducing the displacement of
the soil.
FACTORS
Water Erosion

The influence of topography is

associated with the slope of the land.
The greater the slope, the greater the potential
for water erosion.
PREDICTING WATER
EROSION RATES
The rate of soil erosion on agricultural land is affected by rainfall
characteristics, soil erodibility, slope characteristics, and vegetative
cover and/or management practices.
The influence of topography is
These quantative data form the basis for predicting erosion rates by
associated with the slope of the land.
using the Universal SoilLoss Equation (USLE) developed by Wischmeier
and Smith. The USLE equation is
PREDICTING WATER
EROSION RATES

Where; A is the computed soil loss per unit area as tons per
acre, R is the rainfall factor, K is the soil-erodibility factor, L is the
slope-length
The influence offactor, S is the
topography is slope-gradient factor, C is the
cropping
associated management
with the slope of thefactor,
land. and P is the erosion-control
practice factor. The equation is designed to predict water
erosion rates on agricultural land surfaces, exclusive of erosion
resulting from the formation of large gullies.
R Rainfall Factor
K Soil-erodibility Factor
L Slope-length Factor
S Slope-gradient Factor
 Cropping
C Management Factor
 Erosion-control Practice
P Factor