ABSTRACT
A sustainable agriculture is an agriculture maintained to meet humankind’s needs. A sustainable agriculture is one that can provide for humankind’s needs. An agriculture that provided for the draft horse in the early 20th century in the United States might have been considered sustainable in its day. Soil erosion by water is a process of detachment and transport by raindrops and flowing water. A number of crop production systems used in the United States might result in a very low erosion rate and could be considered sustainable. Erosion is greatly reduced because much of the surface is covered by crop residue and a mulch of loose soil and decaying organic matter. Accelerated soil erosion is a severe threat to sustainable agriculture in tropical Africa. Severe erosion in the forest region occurs when the protective vegetation is removed for intensive cultivation of row crops.
