ENVIRONMENTAL
PROBLEMS:
SOIL EROSION
GROUP 3
”What would happen if we could no longer grow
rice here in the Philippines because
of soil erosion?”
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INTRODUCTION
THE LIVING SKIN OF THE EARTH
•Soil is not “just dirt.” It is a dynamic ecosystem made of minerals, organic matter, water, air, and billions
of microorganisms.
•This thin layer (just a few centimeters thick in most areas) supports 95% of the world’s food
production.
•Soil erosion occurs when natural or human-induced forces strip away the topsoil, the most fertile layer.
•In Environmental Science, soil erosion is seen as a land degradation process that threatens ecological
balance and human survival.
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TYPES OF SOIL EROSION
Sheet Erosion
Rill Erosion
Gully Erosion
Splash Erosion
Wind Erosion
Streambank / Riverbank Erosion
Mass Movement (Landslides)
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1. SHEET EROSION
THIN, UNIFORM LAYER OF TOPSOIL IS
REMOVED BY RAINFALL OR RUNOFF.
OFTEN GOES UNNOTICED UNTIL
CROPS SHOW POOR GROWTH.
COMMON IN AGRICULTURAL FIELDS
WITH NO VEGETATION COVER.
EXAMPLE: RICE FIELDS LEFT BARE
AFTER HARVEST WHERE HEAVY RAINS
WASH AWAY FINE SOIL.
2. RILL EROSION
-WHEN WATER RUNOFF FORMS
SMALL CHANNELS (RILLS) ON THE
SOIL SURFACE.
-CAN STILL BE SMOOTHED BY
NORMAL FARMING OPERATIONS.
-INDICATES SOIL IS LOSING ITS
ABILITY TO ABSORB WATER.
EXAMPLE: SLOPING FARMLANDS
AFTER HEAVY RAIN WHERE SMALL
STREAMS CUT INTO THE SOIL.
3. GULLY EROSION
ADVANCED STAGE OF RILL EROSION.
RILLS DEEPEN INTO LARGE, WIDE
CHANNELS (GULLIES) THAT CANNOT
BE FIXED BY NORMAL FARMING.
LEADS TO PERMANENT LAND
DEGRADATION.
EXAMPLE: GULLIES IN UPLAND
FARMING AREAS OF THE PHILIPPINES
CAUSING LAND ABANDONMENT.
4. SPLASH EROSION
CAUSED BY THE IMPACT OF
RAINDROPS HITTING BARE SOIL,
BREAKING SOIL PARTICLES LOOSE.
FIRST STAGE BEFORE SHEET AND RILL
EROSION.
ACCELERATED WHEN THERE IS NO
VEGETATION COVER.
EXAMPLE: RAINDROPS SPLASHING
ON BARE SOIL IN OPEN FIELDS
DURING A STORM.
5. WIND EROSION
IN DRY, SANDY, OR SEMI-ARID
REGIONS, STRONG WINDS LIFT AND
CARRY AWAY FINE SOIL PARTICLES.
LEADS TO DESERTIFICATION AND
DUST STORMS.
6. STREAMBANK /
RIVERBANK EROSION
RIVERS AND STREAMS WEAR
AWAY THE SOIL ALONG THEIR BANKS.
WORSENED BY DEFORESTATION,
SAND MINING, AND FLOODS.
EXAMPLE: ERODED RIVERBANKS
DURING FLOODING IN CAGAYAN
VALLEY OR PAMPANGA RIVER.
7. MASS MOVEMENT
(LANDSLIDES)
LARGE MOVEMENT OF SOIL AND ROCK
DOWN SLOPES DUE TO GRAVITY.
TRIGGERED BY DEFORESTATION,
MINING, EARTHQUAKES, OR HEAVY
RAINS.
EXAMPLE: LANDSLIDES IN BENGUET
AND LEYTE AFTER TYPHOONS.
CAUSES
Causes of Soil Erosion (Environmental Science Viewpoint)
Deforestation – Trees stabilize soil with their roots; when forests are cleared,
erosion risk rises.
Agricultural Practices – Monocropping, excessive tilling, and chemical use reduce
soil structure and biodiversity.
Overgrazing – Animals eat vegetation cover, leaving bare soil exposed.
Urbanization and Mining – Disturbs land surfaces, removes protective cover, and
increases runoff.
Climate Change – Intensifies rainfall, storms, and drought, all of which worsen
erosion.
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Environmental Consequences of
Soil Erosion
From an Environmental Science perspective, erosion links to multiple systems:
Loss of Soil Fertility – Nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus are stripped away,
reducing crop yields.
Sedimentation of Water Bodies – Rivers, lakes, and dams fill with soil, reducing
water quality and storage capacity.
Habitat Destruction – Soil erosion removes the base for forests and grasslands,
affecting biodiversity.
Carbon Cycle Disruption – Soil stores carbon; when eroded, carbon is released
into the atmosphere, worsening climate change.
Socioeconomic Impact – Reduced agricultural productivity leads to hunger,
poverty, and migration (environmental refugees).
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Prevention and Solutions (Environmental
Science Approaches)
1. Afforestation & Reforestation: Restores root systems that stabilize soil.
2. Conservation Agriculture: Minimal tillage, crop rotation, mulching, cover
crops.
3. Terracing and Contour Plowing: Controls water flow on slopes.
4. Sustainable Grazing: Rotational grazing to prevent overuse.
5. Urban Planning with Green Infrastructure: Grass buffers, green roofs, and
permeable pavements reduce runoff.
6. Education & Policy: Soil conservation laws, community awareness, and
incentives for sustainable farming.
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SUMMARY
Soil is a fragile and limited
resource, and losing it is
not just a farming problem
but a global environmental
issue. If soil erosion
continues at today’s pace,
experts warn we may only
have about sixty harvests
left. Protecting our soil
means protecting nature,
our food, and our future.
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THANK YOU
Presenter GROUP 3
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