Effects of Land and Soil Degradation

One major effect of land / soil degradation is erosion. As the land is deprived of its vegetation cover through activities such as bush burning, sand mining and mineral exploitation, it becomes prone to soil erosion. Excessive rainfall may wash away the top soil which contains most nutrients for land growth causing loss of soil fertility.

Land degradation that results from mining activities, bush burning etc destroys the land. These activities deprive the land of its vegetation making it bare and exposed to harsh climatic conditions.

Land degradation / pollution may result in desertification. As erosion, excessive application of agro-chemicals and continuous cultivation lead to loss of soil fertility, desertification may set in.

Desertification is the process by which the biological potential of the land is reduced or destroyed to such an extent that, the land cannot be used for any meaningful agricultural activity.