ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses effects resulting from sedimentation, effects resulting from floods and other downstream effects and quantification of a global erosion rate in developing countries. It presents empirical information to illustrate the extent of some downstream effects of soil erosion in developing countries. The literature on sedimentation often separates the data into two categories, sediment loads in rivers and sediment deposition in reservoirs. Several attempts have been made in estimate average erosion rates and total amount of sediment load. There are numerous studies that present soil erosion estimates for given countries. Some of these estimates are quantified, while others are presented in qualitative form. There are numerous studies that present soil erosion estimates for given countries. Some of these estimates are quantified, while others are presented in qualitative form. Studies in the United States have shown that the major source of sediment is sheet erosion in areas primarily devoted to agriculture.
