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Soil erosion is the denudation or wearing away of the upper layer of soil. ... plants, and animals (including humans). In accordance with these agents, ...
Overgrazing typically increases soil erosion. [7]With continued overutilization of land for grazing, there is an increase in degradation. This leads to poor soil conditions that only xeric and early successional species can tolerate. [8]
Termites and ants may also retard soil profile development by denuding large areas of soil around their nests, leading to increased loss of soil by erosion. [94] Large animals such as gophers, moles, and prairie dogs bore into the lower soil horizons, bringing materials to the surface. [95]
[5] [10] Both of these actions encourage soil erosion and make it more difficult for plants to firmly ground themselves to this poor terrain. [5] Hence, grass has a tougher time growing, and the terrain becomes spottily doused with grass. [5] However, some do not think these animals contribute to grassland degradation. [5]
Soil erosion is the main factor for soil degradation and is due to several mechanisms: water erosion, wind erosion, chemical degradation and physical degradation. Erosion can be influenced by human activity. For example, roads which increase impermeable surfaces lead to streaming and ground loss.
Soil that is healthy is fertile and productive. [29] But soil erosion leads to a loss of topsoil, organic matter, and nutrients; it breaks down soil structure and decreases water storage capacity, reducing fertility and water availability to plant roots. Soil erosion is, therefore, a major threat to soil biodiversity. [30]
Gophers, moles, prairie dogs, and other burrowing animals rely on this soil for protection and food. The animals even give back to the soil as their burrowing allows more rain, snow and water from ice to enter the soil instead of creating erosion. [7]
However, on US farmland, soil erosion is much less on land used for livestock grazing than on land used for crop production. According to the US Natural Resources Conservation Service , on 95.1% of US pastureland, sheet and rill erosion are within the estimated soil loss tolerance , and on 99.4% of US pastureland, wind erosion is within the ...