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Causes And Effect Of Erosion
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Erosion
is recognized as one of the world's most serious environmental problems
(Pimentel et al., 2005, Shiferaw and Holden, 2009). Globally, about 80%
of the current degradation of agricultural land is caused by soil
erosion (Angima et al., 2003). Erosion by water, at a global scale, is
the main soil degradation process in agricultural areas (Bewket and
Sterk 2002). It generates strong environmental impacts and major
economic losses from decreased agricultural production and from off-site
effects on infrastructure and water quality by sedimentation processes
(Zinabu et al., 2002; Daba, 2003; Haregeweyn et al., 2005; Amsalu et
al., 2007).
Erosion creates severe limitations to sustainable
agricultural land use, as it reduces on-farm soil productivity and
causes food insecurity (Tadesse, 2001; Sonneveld, 2002; Beshah, 2003,
Moges and Holden, 2006, Bewket, 2007). In most developing countries
human activity triggers these losses (Mohammad et al., 2001, Belyaev et
al., 2004, Bewket and Sterk, 2005, Hurni et al., 2005). This is
associated with rapid population growth, inadequate attention to the
basic natural resources (soils, water and vegetation), and the need to
maximize production to meet the needs of the growing population
(Shiferaw and Holden, 2009, 2000, Bewket, 2002, Feoli et al., 2002).
This situation is more serious in poor developing countries where
subsistence production predominates. The average farmer who cultivates
one hectare of food crops and keeps some livestock, is nowadays
dependent on natural conditions and cannot tolerate further
deterioration of soil productivity (Sonneveld and Keyzer, 2003).
Increasing population, intense land cultivation, uncontrolled grazing,
and deforestation often lead to, or exacerbate, soil erosion (Tadesse,
2001 and Bewket, 2002). These factors undermine agricultural
productivity and frustrate economic development efforts, especially in
developing countries where there is heavy land dependence (Shiferaw and
Holden, 2000) in low external-input farming systems.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]This research work was designed to examine the causes and effect of soil erosion in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. Five (5) research questions were formulated and questionnaires were administered to one hundred (100) respondents in order to gather data for the research. Results showed that agricultural activities lead to soil erosion, improper soil management cause erosion, deforestation lead to erosion etc. Recommendations were made and it include that;Sustainable soil mana ... Continue reading---
