5.3 Soil degradation and conservation

Fertile soil

contains a community of organisms that work to maintain functioning nutrient cycles and that are resistant to soil erosion

Soil during succesion

As succesion progresses, the soil in that envornment becomes more fertile.

Soil degradation

The decline in quantity and quality of soil

Human impacts to soil degradation

overgrazing, deforestation, unsustainable agriculture and irrigation cause processes of degradation

Overgrazing

Too much organisms in an area

Desertification

the accumulated result of ill-adapted land use and the effects of a harsh climate.

Salination

When soil is high in salt. Too much salt in the soil leads to less space being given for crops to grow.

• Too much salt in soil = less plants