ABSTRACT
Soil erosion implies the physical removal of topsoil by various agents, including falling raindrops, water flowing over and through the soil profile, wind velocity and gravitational pull. Increased use of artificial fertilizers may to an extent and for a time, compensate for erosion-induced loss of soil quality, where economic circumstances are favourable. Soil erosion’s on-site effects are predominant on agricultural lands. Erosion is must for the formation of alluvial soils and sedimentary rocks. Wind erosion takes place normally in arid and semi-arid areas devoid of vegetation, where the wind velocity is high. The water erosion process consists of discrete stages from raindrop impact to the formation of gully erosion or mass movement. Splash erosion or raindrop impact represents the first stage in the erosion process. Sheet erosion can be recognized by either soil deposition at the bottom of a slope or by the presence of light coloured subsoil appearing on the surface.
