Contrary to popular belief, soil erosion is a natural process that has been occurring for millennia! Granted humans have accelerated the problem in recent years, it remains a natural and recurring problem.
This presents a major challenge to farmers because no matter what regulations the government may enforce to minimize the effects of soil erosion, this problem will continue to be the bane of their existence. Here are five natural causes of soil erosion that are near impossible to solve.
1. Annual Rainfall:
As far as modern science has come in recent years, we’re still no closer to solving the problem of rainfall and soil erosion. Simply put, the more intense a rainstorm is, the more erosion it causes. In fact, the mere impact of raindrops from the sky on the surface of the topsoil breaks down the soil and displaces it from the ground.
The displacement of topsoil during rainfall is one of the biggest causes of soil erosion and one that is almost impossible to completely solve.
2. Water Erosion:
This problem plagues farmers who have vegetation on riverbanks as the constant flow of water continues to chip away at the soil. The flow of water displaces the soil and even harms small plants and shrubs which is why we have to come up with ingenious ways like soil erosion prevention matting to solve this issue (more on that later).
3. Slope Gradient:
This one’s a no-brainer; the steeper the slope of your field, the more vulnerable it will be to the damage of the soil erosion. The simple reason why topsoil continues to erode is because it experiences more gravity (due its height).
A simple way to overcome the problem of slope gradients is to use a retaining wall which effectively holds the soil in place until your plants and vegetation can sprout roots and prevent soil erosion.
4. Soil Erodibility:
The rate of soil erosion also depends on the nature and the quality of soil on your land. Simply put, if the topsoil on your land comprises of fine particles, they can easily be displaced by a relatively strong gust of wind. Furthermore, as the top-most layer of soil is rich in nutrients, soil erodibility can also be detrimental to the fertility of the soil.
5. Erosion due to Tillage Practices:
For those of you who don’t know, tillage erosion is defined as the displacement of soil due to tillage processes and gravity. While that may not sound too bad at first it’s important to realize that tillage erosion can cause the down-slope movement the uppermost layer of soil, which aggravates water erosion.
The Solution:
Fortunately, most of these common and recurring causes of soil erosion can be combated using our range of highly effective GeoNatural soil erosion control supply and sediment control products. Our selection of coir-based products doesn’t only limit these detrimental natural processes but they also improve the quality of your soil.
So, if you’re tired of soil erosion damaging the fertility of your soil, pick up the phone and get in touch with us today. We would love to help you out with this complicated problem!