ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the direct and indirect impacts of soil degradation and then the impacts of soil pollution. The direct impacts of soil degradation include soil nutrient loss, soil salinization, soil acidification, and desertification. Soil nutrients are essential for proper crop development. These vital elements can be grouped into three categories; primary nutrients, secondary nutrients, and micronutrients. Soil salinization may be caused by different factors. High soil salinity levels may be attributed to physical or chemical weathering, as well as transport from parent material, geological deposits, or groundwater. Soil acidification can help to increase the accumulation of some heavy metals like cadmium in food crops. The process of desertification is due to various factors, both natural and man-made. Land degradation has led to the reduction of usable grasslands and forest lands and, through the loss, fragmentation, and isolation of natural habitats, to a reduced level of biodiversity.
