Ask a Cable Concrete Contractor About the Most Significant Effects of Soil Erosion and the Harm It Can Do
Soil erosion is not unusual. In fact, it’s a pretty common occurrence around the world. When topsoil is disturbed, this layer of ground gets moved from here to there—fertile soil for farming can be lost, and wild lands can have a difficult time regenerating. Whereas soil erosion is typically thought of as a slow acting process, in reality, there is no real way of knowing just how slowly or quickly this problem can develop. For example, low rainfall may yield minor soil loss or simple ground disturbance, but it’s not unusual for a heavy rainstorm to take out an entire riverbank.
If you live in an area that’s prone to erosion, ask a cable concrete contractor about the most significant effects of soil erosion—and the harm it can do—so you’ll be better prepared:
- Topsoil loss: Although soil erosion is defined as the loosening and moving of topsoil, topsoil loss is a considerable burden because it’s the most fertile part of the ground. Think of a farmer’s land filled with rows of crops, planted on a slope that’s ever so slight. Farming becomes difficult when the fertile, easier-to-work topsoil is gone.
- Poor drainage: A possible result of rainfall is compacted ground. If there’s too much sand or fine soil, rainwater may pack it down, forming a rather hard layer either just at the surface or down several inches or more. Instead of basic erosion occurring, what you end up getting is poor drainage, greater rainwater runoff or even an increased risk of a serious erosion event happening.
- A reduction in organic matter: Plants cannot grow without rich soil infused with essential nutrients, minerals and organic matter. This impacts farmers, as well as the wild vegetation that blankets the land. In the absence of fertile soil, farmers cannot successfully grow edible crops. And out in nature, eroded land leaves plants out in the cold, as they cannot regenerate into new growth. Also, a lack of vegetation for protection may leave an area vulnerable to further erosion.
- Crop growing issues: Whether it’s water or wind that’s responsible for erosion, farmland may see significant effects in the form of decreased crop growth, thus a negative impact on production. Why? Especially in the case of wind erosion blowing light soil away, when the topsoil is exposed, new plants and seedlings are likely to get buried deeper under dirt and debris—or worse, completely destroyed.
- Continued erosion: There is no doubt that an area with an active history of soil erosion will continue to see problems in the long term. Depending on the spot where erosion is taking place, you can either let it happen and simply avoid the area or, for residential and worked land, seek out solutions for erosion prevention or soil stabilization.
Quick moving erosion is not only hazardous to land, wild animals and vegetation—it’s also a danger to nearby structures, including dams, access roads and homes. Contact us at International Erosion Control Systems Inc. to speak with a knowledgeable cable concrete contractor today.
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