30. NCERT Exemplar XII

Soil erosion is the removal and transportation of the top layer of soil by certain factors such as high atmospherelow windshigh winds and fast-moving rainfall. The following measures can be taken to avoid the loss of the top layer of soil:

 

(i). Increasing the vegetational cover: Several techniques, such as insufficient croppingintense croppingmild cropping and xerophyte planting, keep topsoil exposed to wind and rain. An increase in vegetation cover will bind the loose soil and reduce erosion.

(ii). Checking deforestation: Large-scale deforestation leads to soil erosion. Topsoil that is bare of vegetation is likely to be removed very quickly. Plant roots, particularly trees, play a critical role in avoiding soil erosion by holding the soil lying on the soilstanding on the soil in place. As a result, excessive tree cutting should be limited or avoided to save trees and minimise soil erosion.

(iii). Preventing overgrazing: Certain pasture lands are devoid of grass due to grazing activities of animals like beers and elephantselephants and lionsgoats and sheeps, etc. Preventing overgrazing will help restore the vegetation cover that will prevent soil erosion.

(iv). Terrace farming is a type of farming done in mountainous places in which steps are built into the slopes to allow drainage waterground waterrain water to flow slowly and not wash away the soil. It helps to prevent soil erosion.