Ifran Mohamed Soil, an abundant resource in our planet, serves as the bedrock that supports ecosystems and habitats worldwide while also subsidizing the fluctuation of natural vegetation. However, as our global population exponentially increases at a worrisome rate, the necessity for food is aggravating like never before, requiring that more land be allotted for farming. As a result, our means of agriculture have transitioned from natural growth to artificial growth, where fertilizers and other chemicals are being used to speed up the process of production. Furthermore, human practices such as deforestation, overgrazing of pastures, and the use of agrochemicals are commonly used to quench the paramounting threat of food shortage. As beneficial these actions may be, they are fueling yet another problem: soil erosion and its negative effects. Erosion is an aspect of geology that is commonly taught in elementary and middle school; it is the process by which landforms of Earth’s surface are worn down as a result of the forces of wind and water. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg, erosion has a broader scope of influence in our environment which consequently affects our means of agriculture. Such influences include the distribution of soil, for example, rivers and streams laden with soil can block the flow of water into farm-rich areas, and the distribution of topsoil caused by wind and water decreases the fertility of the soil which in turn, makes it less arable. On top of that, the weakening of soil structure, caused by deforestation, overgrazing, and other plant depletion tactics, further contributes to the decrease in soil arability. In addition, toxic waste or chemicals from industrial plants and agrochemicals from farming transported by the wind and water can seep into our precious soil. This suppression of plant growth not only frustrates farmers, who depend on crop yield for income, but also falls short of the ever growing demand for food.
Despite being a seemingly insignificant problem in our conflict-ridden society, soil erosion is a severe issue. To quench this problem, our actions should centralize around the preservation of our natural resources, such as rivers, forests, and farmlands, which can also benefit the wildlife that depend on them. Imposing anti-deforestation laws in regions with rich soil, such as the Amazon Rainforest, which is heavily bombarded by the lumber industry, will prevent the weakening of soil structure while also preserving the wildlife that depend upon these regions by avoiding desertification. We must advocate for increased cleaning and maintenance of key water sources that are dependent by wildlife and farmers, and prevent the buildup of sediments and pollutants. We can improve our farming practices by reducing the usage of agrochemicals and fertilizers, only using them depending on the Soil Organic Matter Content of the land. As small as these actions may be, they can drastically reduce the problem of soil erosion and can protect our agriculture industry, ecosystems, and wildlife. Sources: “Soil Erosion and Degradation.” WWF, World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org/threats/soil-erosion-and-degradation. Sherwood, Susan. “What Is the Difference Between Deflation & Saltation?” Sciencing, 2 Mar. 2019, sciencing.com/difference-between-deflation-saltation-12336232.html. “Soil Functions.” Soil, www.soil-net.com/dev/page.cfm?pageid=secondary_functions. Richard Schiffman • May 3, et al. “Why It's Time to Stop Punishing Our Soils with Fertilizers.” Yale E360, e360.yale.edu/features/why-its-time-to-stop-punishing-our-soils-with-fertilizers-and-chemicals.
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