Jose Castro
ENV/310
July 23, 2014
Wendy Armstrong
Significance of Soil Soil is a very vital component for plants that helps them grow and thrive in the environment they are in. Erosion is causing soil to dissipate and it is putting a lot of strain on different plant species. In my paper I will discuss the effects erosion has on the environment and I will provide different ways to eradicate or control erosion. I will also discuss the consequences that erosion will provide if it is not managed quickly.
Effects of Erosion The nitrogen cycle has a main component which begins with the nitrogen that is in the air. The nutrients that it provides the soil goes through a complex system that is similar to constant recycling. Nitrogen in the air turns into biological matter through bacteria and algae (this is also known as nitrogen fixation). Bacteria in the air mix with nitrogen and it eventually becomes …show more content…
When moss grows on rocks it releases chemicals that slowly dissolve the rocks. Plants contribute to rock erosion when the roots grow through cracks in the rocks as the roots search for water. Soil can also become victim to plants slowly eroding it; when the plants release chemicals it breaks down the soil. Managing erosion can be an arduous process; educating others can help in the efforts of controlling erosion. One way to manage erosion is to eradicate the process of tilling. Tilling removes the soil from the top and exposes subsoil while burying the top soil. Presenting farmers with different methods that do not include the use of tilling would lower soil erosion. Surface cover and runoff are great ways to manage soil erosion. Surface cover prevents heavy showers from deteriorating the soil while runoff focuses on managing the flow of water at a down slope (Preventing and Managing Erosion,