Question

Which of the following is/are the main agents of soil erosion?
A) Wind and Water B) Rocks C) Sand
A. A
B. A and B
C. B and C
D. A, B, C

Answer 1

Hint: To solve this question, first try by defining what is soil erosion and state different agents that can cause soil erosion and mention the effects of soil erosion. Then try to choose the option that shows similar criteria with agents mentioned in the content and you will get your option.


Complete step by step solution:
Soil erosion is referred to as the natural process, in which the topsoil of a field is carried away by any physical sources such as wind and water. In this process, the soil particles are loosened or washed away in the oceans, valleys, rivers, streams or far away lands. Human activities like agriculture and deforestation play a key role causing soil erosion. It is a continuous process that occurs either slowly or at a rapid rate. It results in a continuous loss of topsoil, ecological degradation, soil collapse, etc.
Let’s have look at the causes of soil erosion:
- Rainfall and flooding: Higher intensity of rainstorm is considered to be the main cause of soil erosion. The raindrops disperse the soil, which is then washed away into the nearby rivers.
- Agriculture: The farming practices are the major cause of soil erosion. The agricultural activities like ploughing disturb the ground resulting in displacement of the top soil.
- River and streams: The flowing rivers and streams carry away the soil particles leading to a V-shaped erosion.
- Heavy winds: During dry weather or in semi-arid places, the small soil particles are carried away by the wind to faraway lands.
- Grazing: The grazing animals feed on the grasses and remove the vegetation from the land leading to displacement of the topsoil.
So, we can see that water and wind acts as an agent in causing soil erosion.


Hence, the correct option is A.


Note: Soil erosion has both positive and negative effects. Positive effect of soil erosion shows that the old soil will be replaced with the new soil, while the negative effect of soil erosion is that when the soil gets eroded it strips the land of that soil and can make that land unsuitable for further farming or vegetation.