which two factors are responsible for land degration Related: Short N...
Factors responsible for land degradation:
There are several factors that contribute to land degradation, but two of the most significant ones are:
1. Human activities:
Human activities are the most significant factor responsible for land degradation. The activities that lead to land degradation include deforestation, overgrazing, agriculture, mining, urbanization, and industrialization. These activities lead to soil erosion, soil compaction, soil pollution, and loss of soil fertility. Moreover, human activities also contribute to climate change, which further exacerbates land degradation.
2. Natural factors:
Natural factors such as climate change, drought, floods, and wildfires also contribute to land degradation. Climate change affects the soil moisture, causing drought, which leads to a decrease in soil productivity and fertility. Floods, on the other hand, cause soil erosion and sedimentation, leading to reduced soil fertility. Wildfires also lead to soil erosion and loss of vegetation cover, which further contributes to land degradation.
How human activities cause land degradation:
Human activities such as deforestation, overgrazing, agriculture, mining, urbanization, and industrialization lead to land degradation in the following ways:
1. Soil erosion:
Deforestation and overgrazing lead to soil erosion, which is the washing away of soil by water or wind. Soil erosion results in the loss of fertile topsoil, which reduces soil productivity.
2. Soil compaction:
Agriculture, mining, and construction activities lead to soil compaction, which is the compression of soil particles. Soil compaction makes it difficult for roots to penetrate the soil, leading to reduced plant growth and productivity.
3. Soil pollution:
Industrial and agricultural activities lead to soil pollution, which is the contamination of soil by chemicals, heavy metals, and other pollutants. Soil pollution reduces soil fertility and productivity, and it also poses a threat to human health.
4. Loss of soil fertility:
Deforestation, overgrazing, and agricultural activities lead to the loss of soil fertility. Continuous cropping without proper soil management practices leads to the depletion of soil nutrients, which reduces soil productivity.
How natural factors cause land degradation:
Natural factors such as climate change, drought, floods, and wildfires contribute to land degradation in the following ways:
1. Drought:
Drought reduces soil moisture, leading to a decrease in soil productivity and fertility. Drought also leads to the death of plants, which further exacerbates land degradation.
2. Floods:
Floods cause soil erosion and sedimentation, leading to reduced soil fertility. Floods also lead to the destruction of vegetation cover, which further contributes to land degradation.
3. Wildfires:
Wildfires lead to soil erosion and loss of vegetation cover, which further contributes to land degradation. Wildfires also release carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.