Soil Erosion and Degradation
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The biggest threat to our civilization isn’t war or any geopolitical situation but soil erosion and degradation. Soil erosion is a massive issue facing not just Texas, but the entire world. Over the course of this video we will outline the causes of soil erosion, explain why it is so dangerous, and detail a method for combating this negative change.
What is Soil?
But first, let’s make sure we know exactly what soil is. Soil is a precious natural commodity made up of broken-down near-surface rocks mixed with dirt, the remains of animals and plants, and bodily wastes. Soil is naturally formed and is made with the participation of many forms of life. Plants decay with the help of bacteria and add fertility to soil; burrowing animals mix it up; earthworms pulverize and process the material internally before excreting the same material in a refined form. Burrowing animals and earthworms also create passageways through the earth that allows air to reach the roots and plants that need it.
There are two main types of soil: subsoil and topsoil. The richest soil is topsoil. This is due to the mixing and management performed by animals and insects that are closer to the surface allows. Topsoil is not very deep, usually about 12 inches deep at most. These top 12 inches are the best for growing plants of all kinds, but unfortunately, our earth’s topsoil is a great risk of erosion and degradation.
Types of Soil Erosion
So what exactly is soil erosion? Soil erosion occurs when topsoil is worn away and loses its quality. There are actually two different types of soil erosion with differing degrees of severity, one natural and one man-made. Natural soil erosion is caused by water and wind. This is still harmful to topsoil, but it is nowhere near as threatening to the safety of life as man-made erosion.
Man-made soil erosion is caused through a number of methods but primarily through agriculture activities such as the over-tilling of fields. Through the process of erosion, topsoil is not only removed of its fertility but also transposed from farm fields to additional sources of pollution. Soil is the basic foundation for the growth of organic matter and is responsible for all vegetation and natural land-based food sources. It is a limited resource that should be regarded more highly than it is.
The lasting impacts of soil erosion and degradation could be devastating if the path we are on isn’t corrected. The entirety of the agriculture industry depends on the use of healthy soil. That isn’t even mentioning the devastation that could befall the earth’s animal population if our current soil erosion trends continue unchecked. Soil is truly invaluable.
One hectare is the equivalent of 2.47 acres. An estimate put out by the United Nations suggests that 6 million new hectares of fertile farmland are needed each year to meet the current demands of our agricultural and food industries on a global level. Not only are we not close to reaching this 6 million hectares goal, but we are actively moving in the wrong direction. An estimated 12 million hectares are lost every year as a result of soil erosion and degradation.
How To Avoid Soil Erosion And Degradation?
Extreme cases of soil degradation and erosion lead to desertification, meaning once usable land is now desert. When desertification has taken place, the results can be near impossible to correct. If we can catch onto erosion earlier, then we do have the means and methods to counteract it. It is also possible to all but completely avoid the man-made side of soil erosion through ecologically conscious forethought and preemptive action.
Regenerative agriculture may be our best defense against soil erosion. Many farms and ranches in Texas, both big and small, have embraced regenerative agriculture, recognizing the need to defend against the destruction of soil. The core principal of regenerative agriculture is to rejuvenate topsoil while performing the staple duties of farming. This entails rotating crops, minimizing the act of tilling, mulching, composting, using natural manure from grazing cattle, and more. Regenerative agriculture can and should be practiced by all those involved in the agriculture business, not just in Texas.
Soil erosion and degradation are inarguably one of the biggest threats to civilization. So many hinges on successful agriculture businesses around the world, and without healthy soil, they will not be able to operate. This is an issue to be taken seriously. Unlike other major global threats, we at least have a clear way to combat this threat: regenerative agriculture.
Sources:
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/12-053.htm
https://www.phas.ubc.ca/~gregory/papers/GregoryBowenIslandPresentation24Jan2017sht.pdf
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/soil-erosion
https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/soil-erosion-and-degradation
