ABSTRACT
Scientists, farmers, and others have come to accept the fact that during the process of erosion by water and wind, the fertile topsoil is lost. The many changes in soil physical properties as a result of erosion, however, are often not considered by many researchers. This chapter provides the potential impact of soil erosion on water quality. Soil erosion results in reduced soil quality, and the deposition of eroded materials adversely affects water quality when transported sediment is deposited in a receiving body of water. Soil physical and chemical properties may be altered dramatically by erosion. Simulated model results indeed show deeper movement of pesticide with increasing erosion and lower organic matter and greater bulk density. After calculating potential wind erosion using the wind erosion equation, L. Wilson concluded that pollution from wind erosion is certainly a legitimate environmental concern.
