Mains Practice Questions

Approach

• Start your answer with a brief introduction of soil erosion.
• Write its types and explain how it affect environment and economy.
• Conclude accordingly.

Introduction:

Soil erosion is the removal and displacement of the top layer of soil by various natural or human-induced agents. It is a serious environmental problem that affects the quality and productivity of land resources. It has the following main types and causes in India:

Body:

Types of soil erosion:

• Water erosion:
  • It is caused by the action of water, such as rainfall, runoff, streams, rivers, etc.
  • It results in the formation of rills, gullies, ravines, etc.
    • It is the most widespread and severe type of soil erosion in India.
• Wind erosion:
  • It is caused by the action of wind, especially in arid and semi-arid regions.
  • It results in the formation of sand dunes, deflation hollows, etc.
    • It is more common in western and northwestern parts of India.
• Glacier erosion:
  • It is caused by the movement of glaciers, which scrape and pluck the underlying rocks and soil.
  • It results in the formation of U-shaped valleys, cirques, moraines, etc.
    • It is more common in the Himalayan region of India.
• Coastal erosion:
  • It is caused by the action of waves, tides, currents, etc. along the coastline.
  • It results in the formation of cliffs, caves, arches, stacks, etc.
    • It is more common in the eastern and western coasts of India.

Causes:

• Natural causes:
  • These include climatic factors (such as rainfall intensity and distribution, temperature, wind speed and direction, etc.),
    • topographic factors (such as slope, aspect, relief, drainage pattern, etc.),
    • geological factors (such as rock type, structure, texture, etc.),
    • biological factors (such as vegetation cover, soil organisms, etc.).
• Human-induced causes:
  • These include deforestation, overgrazing, overcultivation, improper irrigation, mining, quarrying, construction activities, urbanization, industrialization, etc.

Soil erosion affects the environment and the economy of India in the following ways:

• Environmental effects:
  • Soil erosion reduces the fertility and water-holding capacity of soil. It leads to loss of organic matter and nutrients from soil.
  • It causes siltation and pollution of water bodies. It increases the risk of floods and droughts.
  • It affects the biodiversity and ecosystem services of soil.
• Economic effects:
  • Soil erosion reduces the agricultural productivity and food security of India.
    • It increases the cost of soil conservation and reclamation.
  • It affects the hydroelectric power generation and navigation potential of rivers.
  • It damages the infrastructure and property along the coastlines.
  • It reduces the income and livelihood opportunities of rural people.

Conclusion:

Thus, soil erosion is a major threat to the sustainable development of India. It requires proper prevention and mitigation measures to conserve and enhance the soil resources of India.