The Effects of Soil Erosion

Soil Quality

• Erosion of the soil harms the area's suitability for farming, since it leaches vital nutrients that crops need to survive. Those nutrients usually reside on the topmost layer of the soil, which is the first to go in the case of erosion. In addition, erosion tends to scatter the topsoil over a wider area, which reduces its concentration of nutrients and can also reduce its ability to retain water.

Natural Disasters

• In cases where erosion takes place on a hillside or a slope, it can increase the threat of flooding and natural disasters, such as mudslides. During periods of heavy rain, this eroded soil becomes waterlogged and will move with the water rather than staying in place. This can lead to roads and fences washing out, mudslides damaging homes and even major civic structures such as bridges being undermined. Proper drainage can avert some of the effects of these disasters, but even this is just a short-term measure unless the area as a whole can be protected from erosion.

Downstream Effects

• When soil erodes, water can carry it downstream to other areas. This can bring pesticides and fertilizers to areas for which they were not intended, causing great environmental harm. In addition, eroded soil can clog streams and reservoirs, pollute formerly clean water and disrupt the growth of seeds and fish in the areas where it finally comes to rest. It may also increase the chances of flooding and mudslides downstream, since the eroded soil cannot contain water effectively when it finally comes to rest.

Wind Erosion

• Eroded soil is vulnerable to blasts of wind, which can stir it up to create great dust clouds and sand dunes. A prominent example occurred during the Great Depression, when erosion on abandoned farms led to the infamous "Dust Bowl." Such conditions make it extremely difficult to farm or work the land, as dust gets in the eyes and irritates the mouth and ears. In addition, drifting soil can further rob the soil of nutrients, making it that much harder to help the land recover. Removing windblown soil takes time and money that can be better spent making good use of the land.