1. Causes Of Soil Degradation
IB SL

2. Soil Problems
The main issue is that soils take thousands of years to develop but are very quickly ruined by human actions.
Natural loss occurs via leaching, erosion and mass movements but today the natural balance of soil is being upset far more frequently.
Human impact alters nutrient content, leads to soil erosion, compaction and salinisation.

3. Soil Erosion
The problem was first recognized in the UK in the 1970's when water erosion of upland peat and wind erosion on large open fields was prevalent.
A large quantity of soil was removed, much of which was the organic rich topsoil.
The more topsoil that is removed the more erosion that occurs, as there are fewer roots to bind the soil.

4. Causes Of Erosion More intensive agriculture.
Larger and more powerful agricultural machinery.
Increase compaction of soil.
Inappropriate cultivation of steeper slopes.
Larger fields.
Year round agriculture.
Decrease in hedgerows.
Population pressure.
Development.

5. Activity
Looking at P in AS Level Geography, answer the following questions...
Create 2 spider diagrams of positive and negative impacts people have on soils (using no more than 2 words per key point e.g. Fertilisers, Overgrazing etc).
What are the 5 main ways of how farming methods affect soils briefly commenting on their effects?