ABSTRACT

Accelerated soil erosion is a global problem of modern times with severe economic and environmental impacts. Accelerated soil erosion is a predominant degradative process at the global scale. Ratio of areas of susceptible to unsusceptible or less susceptible soilscape units is an important factor determining the mean soil quality index over the watershed in relation to its interaction with erosional processes. Soil’s environmental regulatory functions are also intimately related to its productivity, both being determined by soil quality. Soil resilience affects soil quality by mitigating the adverse effects of predominant degradative processes. The impact of erosion on soil quality and vice versa is confounded by the interactive effects of biophysical factors and socioeconomic environments. Erosion effects on soil quality depend on the minimum soil depth required to sustain productivity and maintain environmental regulatory capacity. Erosion effects on soil quality and productivity are minimal for a soil with a deep profile of uniformly favorable properties.