Land

Soil Profile

Describes the different layers of soil, including O Horizon, A Horizon, E Horizon, B Horizon, C Horizon, and R Horizon, each with distinct characteristics and functions.

Pedosphere

The outermost layer of the Earth's crust that supports life, consisting of soil, organisms, air, and water, playing a crucial role in nutrient cycling and supporting plant growth.

Leaching

The process where water removes soluble nutrients and minerals from soil layers, potentially leading to nutrient depletion in the topsoil and affecting plant growth and soil fertility.

Erosion

Natural process of wearing away and transporting soil and rock particles by wind, water, or ice, which can be accelerated by human activities like deforestation, leading to loss of fertile soil and sedimentation in water bodies.

Desertification

The process where fertile land turns into desert due to factors like climate change, overgrazing, and unsustainable agricultural practices, resulting in land degradation and loss of biodiversity.

Salinization

Increase in soil salt concentration due to irrigation practices promoting evaporation, impairing soil fertility and limiting plant growth, especially in arid regions.

Eutrophication

Excessive enrichment of nutrients in bodies of water, often from agricultural runoff, leading to rapid algae growth, oxygen depletion, and harm to aquatic ecosystems.

Conservation

Involves sustainable management and preservation of natural resources like land, water, biodiversity, and soil to maintain ecosystem services and biodiversity while minimizing environmental impacts.

Deforestation

Clearing of forests for purposes like agriculture or urbanization, contributing to soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and changes in climate patterns.

Sustainable land management

Practices aiming to use land resources in ways that maintain or enhance ecosystem services, biodiversity, and soil fertility over the long term, integrating environmental, economic, and social considerations for sustainable development.