Q3 (b) “Soil erosion is creeping death.” Explaining the statement, suggest various soil conservation measures. 15 Marks (PYQ/2024)

Biogeography – Soil – Soil Degradation

Answer:

Introduction

The phrase “Soil erosion is creeping death” underscores the gradual yet irreversible degradation of soil through removal of its nutrient-rich top layer by wind, water, and anthropogenic activities. It reflects the slow but persistent loss of a vital natural resource upon which agriculture, ecosystems, and human survival depend. Soil erosion often goes unnoticed until it reaches critical levels, impacting food security, livelihoods, and land productivity.

Theoretical Framework

• Hugh Hammond Bennet, father of soil conservation in the USA, emphasized that “Productive soil is the foundation of civilization.”
• Land Degradation Theory views erosion as a part of larger anthropogenic-environmental interactions.
• System Approach in Geography sees soil as a dynamic interface between lithosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere.
• Environmental Determinism (Huntington) links degraded soils to decline in civilization and human productivity.

Causes and Dynamics of Soil Erosion

1. Natural Causes

• Water erosion: Splash, rill, gully, and sheet erosion, especially in monsoonal regions.
• Wind erosion: Deflation and abrasion in arid zones (e.g., Rajasthan).
• Gravity: Mass wasting on steep slopes.

2. Anthropogenic Causes

• Deforestation, overgrazing, unsustainable agriculture, and urban sprawl.
• Excessive tillage, slash-and-burn farming, and construction activities accelerate erosion.

Impacts: Why It Is Called “Creeping Death”

• Loss of topsoil (most fertile layer).
• Decline in soil organic matter, affecting microbial life.
• Increased runoff and flooding.
• Leads to desertification and reduced agricultural productivity.

Law of Diminishing Returns applies as more inputs (fertilizers, irrigation) are needed to maintain yield from eroded lands.

Soil Conservation Measures

1. Mechanical Measures

• Contour bunding: Construction of embankments along contours to check runoff (Wadia, 1966).
• Terracing: Especially effective in hilly regions (as per Possibilism, humans modify terrain).
• Check dams and gully plugging: Control erosion in ravines and undulating lands.

2. Agronomic Measures

• Cover cropping: Leguminous plants improve soil structure and prevent erosion.
• Crop rotation and strip cropping: Improve ground cover and maintain fertility.
• Mulching: Retains soil moisture and prevents crusting.

3. Vegetative and Biological Methods

• Afforestation and reforestation: Tree roots bind the soil.
• Agroforestry systems: Integration of trees with crops (sustainable land-use model).

4. Policy and Community Approaches

• Watershed management: Holistic approach to soil and water conservation (Chambal and Sukhomajri models).
• Education and participatory planning: Community-based soil conservation (aligned with Behavioural Geography).

Case Study 1: Sukhomajri (Haryana)

• A watershed-based soil conservation program.
• Use of check dams and afforestation led to reduction in runoff and increase in groundwater recharge.

Model of integrated natural resource management involving local participation.

Case Study 2: Chambal Ravine Reclamation (MP & Rajasthan)

• Severe gully erosion addressed through vegetative barriers, gully plugging, and rainwater harvesting.
• Reduced siltation in the Chambal River, improved agricultural productivity.

Geographical Laws and Perspectives

• Law of Environmental Unity: Changes in one component (vegetation) affect others (soil, water).
• Neo-environmentalism emphasizes sustainability and conservation ethics.
• Technocentrism (Julian Simon) supports use of technology (e.g., geotextiles, remote sensing) in monitoring and conserving soil.

Conclusion

Soil erosion, though slow, is a lethal threat to environmental and economic sustainability. It is truly a “creeping death” as its impacts accumulate silently, degrading natural capital and jeopardizing food security. A multi-dimensional approach, integrating scientific techniques, traditional knowledge, policy interventions, and community participation, is essential for effective soil conservation and sustainable development.