How many kinds of erosion are there

Ultimately, rainwater is most frequently to blame when it comes to this issue. The flowing water moves the soil organic and inorganic particles alongside the land surface, depositing them in the lower landscape. The result of this would be flooding in the long run. The eroded soil material can either form a new soil or move to water reservoirs nearby lakes, streams, etc. Depending on the cause of its occurrence, land depletion by water can be either natural or accelerated.

Natural water erosion is beyond human control and does not have a significant effect on soil fertility. It is caused by rainfall, melted snow, or runoff, i. Each soil type has its natural erosion rate, depending on farmland properties and the climate in which it is located. On the contrary, accelerated erosion is the consequence of irrational farming. It occurs when the wrong choice of irrigation method, amount of water, and the time of its application result in the destruction of the fertile layer of land.

Land depletion caused by water occurs in several stages and is manifested in different ways according to the factors that caused it. Below are the common water erosion types that can affect soil if not prevented promptly. This is the first stage in the erosion process that is caused by rain.

Eventually, it causes the formation of surface crusts, negatively affects soil infiltration ability, and eventually results in runoff formation. This type of soil degradation by water occurs when the rainfall intensity is greater than the soil infiltration ability and results in the loss of the finest soil particles that contain nutrients and organic matter.

It usually follows after crusting that is caused by the previous stage of soil damage by water. If not prevented timely, one of the most negative effects of sheet erosion will be the formation of rills. Rill erosion follows after, when the water concentrates deeper in the soil and starts forming faster-flowing channels.

These channels can be up to 30cm deep and cause detachment and transportation of soil particles. Rill erosion can eventually evolve into gully erosion. That is when the rills become at least 0. Apart from causing huge soil losses and destroying farmland, it also results in reduction of water quality by increasing the sediment load in streams. It begins when large water mass starts moving through the structurally unstable soil. That is why it is usually the biggest threat to sodic soil.

The manifestations of tunneling would be a series of tunnels beneath the soil surface. Despite the diversity of manifestations, all types of water erosion cause a common set of negative effects that can be defined. The removal of topsoil due to the fast land degradation process will inevitably affect the plants that grow there.

The reduction of nutrients that were washed out from the soil by the excess water will prevent crops from receiving the necessary amount of needed elements that decreases their performance.

The absence of the topsoil surface leads to water pollution due to chemical runoff, negatively affecting animals, fish and algae in the area. Eventually, this leads to reduction of the animal population. Severe land degradation by water can negatively impact the ecosystems by causing flooding. The washed away topsoil loses its water absorption ability , greatly increasing the possibility of flooding in areas that are predisposed to it.

These fragments wash into soil pores and prevent water from infiltrating the soil. Water then accumulates on the surface and increases runoff which takes soil with it. Well-structured soils are less prone to break up, and the impact of raindrops is minimised if the soil surface is protected by plant or litter cover. The vulnerability of soils to water erosion depends on:. Hill slopes are prone to sheet erosion and rill erosion. The amount of hill slope erosion largely depends on how the land is used.

Sheet erosion occurs when a thin layer of topsoil is removed over a whole hillside paddock—and may not be readily noticed. Rill erosion occurs when runoff water forms small channels as it concentrates down a slope. These rills can be up to 0. If they become any deeper than 0. Scalding can occur when wind and water erosion removes the top soil and exposes saline or sodic soils. Raindrop impact alone can result in large amounts of soil being moved.

However water or wind moving over the surface will remove more soil, and contribute to sheet, rill and gully erosion. Erosion also tends to remove the lighter, smaller soil particles first such as clay and silt , leaving fine and coarse sand behind. A combination of large amounts of fine sand and small amounts of clay at the surface means the soil tends to seal and set hard, which limits infiltration water entering the soil.

Gully erosion happens when runoff concentrates and flows strongly enough to detach and move soil particles. For example, a waterfall may form, with runoff picking up energy as it plunges over the gully head. Splashback at the base of the gully head erodes the subsoil and the gully eats its way up the slope.

Gullies may develop in watercourses or other places where runoff concentrates. In cultivation or pastures, advanced rill erosion can develop into gully erosion. This type of erosion is highly visible and affects soil productivity, restricts land use, and can damage roads, fences and buildings.

The best way to control water erosion involve slowing down the flow of water and limiting soil detachment. The best way to prevent this is to keep the soil covered with either growing plants or residues from past crops. These absorb the energy from raindrops and slow the rate of water flow over the surface, allowing more time to have water infiltrate through the soil.

Tillage is very important in agriculture, but there are several best management practices that can help reduce erosion. Using cover crops, filter strips, contour farming and conservation tillage, and riparian buffers can help reduce or eliminate soil movement. Minimum and no till systems help with both types of erosion. Erosion Facts and Conservation. Water Erosion and Conservation. Wind Erosion and Conservation. For high school and introductory college students, gain a foundation about the world of soils with our book - Know Soil, Know Life.

Visit the Society Store to learn more and purchase your copy today. Breadcrumb Home. Erosion Worldwide, Water Erosion Water is powerful! Three types of water erosion can occur, sheet, rill, and gully.

Sheet erosion: This erosion is the hardest to see, as a uniform soil layer is removed from an area over the surface. Rill erosion: This type of erosion starts as water flowing over the soil surface concentrates into small streams, creating channels of water flow.

Gully erosion: If the rill erosion is not kept under control, it creates gullies, which are deeper and wider cuts. They are really problematic on cropland, since tractors and tillage implements cannot get across them.

Wind Erosion Soil can fill the air when it is dry and not anchored by vegetation. Controlling Erosion Wise use of our soils requires us to minimize erosion. Know Soil, Know Life For high school and introductory college students, gain a foundation about the world of soils with our book - Know Soil, Know Life.