Question

Give any two reasons for land degradation.

Answer 1

Hint:
Soil degradation means the declination in the soil’s productivity due to adverse changes in the nutrient status of soil organic matter. Some other points regarding it are structural attributes, concentrations of electrolytes and toxic chemicals. Actually, land degradation is the process, which lowers the current and future capacity of the soil to produce the services.

Complete solution:
The effects of land degradation can often be mitigated, prevented and even reversed by using sustainable farming techniques and better land management practices. As erosion is the primary concern with land degradation, there will be a variety of ways to control the erosion effects of wind as well as water.
Two main reasons for land degradation are:
• Large scale destruction of the forest cover.
• Excessive use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers in the agricultural lands.

Additional Information: Here are the few points:
• Windbreaks: Artificial and natural windbreaks like shrubs. It reduces the erosion effects of the wind. Plants are also having the added benefit of anchoring the soil. It is for reducing the effects of erosion from water.
• Terracing: Terracing of the slopes reduces the effects of water runoff and helps conserve rainwater.
• Strip farming: Alternating stripes of the different kinds of crops for helping to reduce the effects of erosion.
• Crop rotation: Crop rotation is the planting of various kinds of crops in the same field in the specific order.

Note:
Land degradation can exacerbate climate change. It is also the threats for agricultural productivity, water quality, biodiversity as well as the living conditions of humans and wildlife.