Soil - Class 6 Science Revision Notes

• Soil Erosion
  • Agents of Soil Erosion
  • Factors that Infuence Soil Erosion
  • Types of Soil

Soil Erosion

Soil erosion is the carrying away of the top soil from one place to another.

Agents of Soil Erosion

They are things that carry soil from one place to another. They include;

• Water
• wind

Factors that Influence Soil Erosion

1. Slope of land
2. Type of soil
3. Vegetation cover
4. Amount of rainfall
5. Human activities

Types of Soil Erosion

1. Splash erosion
2. Sheet erosion
3. Rill erosion
4. Gulley erosion

Splash Erosion

It occurs when raindrops fall on bare loose soil.
It can be controlled by;

• Planting cover crops
• mulching

Sheet Erosion

It occurs when water or wind carries away thin uniform layers of the topsoil.
It is not easily noticed
It occurs on gentle slopes.
Best controlled by;

• Planting cover crops
• Planting trees
• Landslides are caused by sheet erosion

Rill Erosion

It occurs when water flows down a slope and make small shallow channels. The channels are known as rills. it is common on gentle sloping areas.
It can be controlled by;

• Terracing
• Contour farming
• Strip cropping

Gulley Erosion

It occurs when water make deep channels , they are known as gulleys.
Gulley erosion leads to the formation of V-shaped or U-shaped channels.
It is common on bare hill slopes.
It can be controlled by;

• Gabions
• Porous dams
• Check dams