Answer

Cause of Soil Degradation and Measures to Control it

Soil degradation is happening in most parts of the world, negatively impacting the planet’s population. The parts of the world most affected are Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America. According to Strahler (2013), agriculture is the largest cause of soil degradation. Most parts of the land in these parts of the world are used for agriculture, whereby people engage in poor farming activities and mining, which cause poor soil quality. Activities such as overgrazing, unbalanced fertilizer use, deforestation, and improper crop rotation are common practices in these regions affecting the soil quality. In Europe, poor land management accounts for most of the soil degradation in the region. Besides agricultural activity, North and South America also engage in high agrochemical use and mechanical cultivation and soil movement. Erosion by wind and water also causes soil degradation, especially in North America (Strahler, 2013).

 Effective conservative methods exist to protect the land from soil degradation. Forest protection is the first step to prevent soil degradation as forests offer adequate protection to soil. Practicing no-till farming is also essential because it keeps the land from remaining bare and unprotected (Strahler, 2013). Buffer strips are vital features that protect the soil in areas with natural water bodies. Paving stones are also of the essence in residential areas to avoid water flows and protect the soil.

Additionally, since plantations can anchor the soil and reduce the effects of erosion, engaging in artificial and natural windbreaks can help preserve the soil. Crop rotation increases soil nutrients. It entails the planting of varied crops in the same field in a particular order. Instead of engaging in the usual farming practices that destroy the land, people should train themselves to practice crop rotation and save the soil from degradation (Strahler, 2013).

Land conservation is very important to protect the soil and its essential nutrients. It is necessary to conserve the soil and boost its natural benefits since commercial activities such as agriculture, mining, and deforestation cause the highest amount of soil degradation.