Name 5 factors that increase soil erosion
1. Deforestation: Removal of trees and vegetation from an area leaves the soil exposed to erosion by wind and water, as tree roots help to bind the soil together and absorb rainfall.
2. Overgrazing: When livestock are allowed to graze excessively on an area, they can remove vegetation, trample the soil, and compact it, making it more vulnerable to erosion.
3. Improper agricultural practices: Poor land management techniques, such as monocropping, excessive tilling, and leaving fields bare between cropping seasons, can lead to soil erosion. This is because these practices remove the protective cover of vegetation and disturb the soil structure.
4. Urbanization and construction: Construction activities like road building, housing developments, and infrastructure projects often involve stripping away the topsoil and compacting the underlying soil, increasing the chances of erosion.
5. Climate factors: Intense rainfall events, high winds, and changes in climate patterns can contribute to soil erosion by increasing the erosive power of water and wind.