Activities which affect the soil

Activities which affect the soil

Activities performed on the land surface or below the surface can affect the soil. There are many human and non-human activities that affect the soil. Some of the human activities that affect the soil are poor agricultural practices and overgrazing. Other practices which may affect the soil are deforestation and burning of vegetation cover. Mining activities, development of cities and business growth, natural disasters, and improper waste disposal may also affect the soil.

1. Poor agricultural practices: Agriculture is an activity that provides us with crops for food and business. For sustainable agriculture, the soil should be fertile and should have structure which allows proper growth of crops. Poor agricultural practices affect soil composition. These practices include cultivating on slopes without taking measures for controlling soil erosion. For example, cultivating without use of terraces, over-tilling and improper use of fertilizers and pesticides. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides affect the soil structure and kill living organisms in it. This happens when they are used without advice from agricultural experts.

Poor agricultural practices leading to soil degradation

2. Overgrazing: Overgrazing affects the soil. Grazing of many animals in one area for a long period of time causes grass depletion resulting into bare land. Movement of large groups of animals in one area from time to time can also destroy the soil structure. This causes soil erosion.

Overgrazing leading to soil degradation

3. Deforestation: Trees are important to the ecosystem and human activities. Trees also give shade to the soil. Decaying of parts of trees such as leaves, stems and roots improves soil fertility. High rates of deforestation affect the soil. This results to bare land leading to soil erosion by water or wind.

Deforestation leading to soil degradation

4. Burning of forests: Burning of forests is a result of human activities such as honey harvesting, hunting, building and agriculture. In rare cases, fire can be caused by natural sources like volcanic eruption. Fire affects living organisms on the land surface or underground which are important for soil formation. In addition, fire destroys minerals in the soil therefore decreasing its fertility and destroying its structure.

Burning forest leading to soil degradation

5. Mining activities: Mining activities transform the structure of the soil. In the preparation of a mining site, usually deforestation occurs and part of the soil is displaced. These activities cause the destruction of the soil structure and loss of water, nutrients and moisture. In the mining activities, water and various chemicals are used. Usually water is contaminated with chemicals during the cleaning of minerals. The contaminated water penetrates into the soil. This kind of soil can no longer support the growth.

Mining Activities

6. Growth of cities and business: Due to increase in population, many forest areas have been cleared in order to build human settlements. In human settlements and business areas, many activities are performed which affect the soil. Activities such as construction, transportation, industrial manufacturing of goods, and business may affect the soil. Poor storage and disposal of chemical waste from factories may have serious effects on the soil. Therefore, the affected soil is no longer suitable for agricultural activities.

A Growing City causing soil Degradation

7. Natural disasters: These are phenomena which have severe effects on soil, such as flooding, earthquakes and volcanic eruption. Flooding causes water retention in an area for a long time. This leads to loss of various nutrients in the soil and death of important organisms due to lack of air. Earthquakes are often accompanied by ruptures of the upper layer of the land. This damages the soil structure. In some parts of the world, there are volcanic eruptions that spill lava that affects the soil.

Flooding leading to soil degradation

8. Improper disposal of waste: Various activities conducted at home, school, factories, and in institutions produce waste. Other activities that produce waste are transportation and agricultural activities. Other types of waste can be in the form of liquid or gas. Solid waste such as plastics do not decay, hence, they affect soil formation.

Improper waste disposal leading to soil degradation