According to Henderson
(2006), the effect of soil erosion can be grouped into two, namely on-site and
off-site effects.
(2006), the effect of soil erosion can be grouped into two, namely on-site and
off-site effects.
1. On-Site
Effects
Effects
The onsite loses as it affects farmers include loss of water, fertilizer
and pesticides, meaning immediate production loss. The loss of arable land is
immense/reduced economic viability as a result of soil depletion. He stated
and pesticides, meaning immediate production loss. The loss of arable land is
immense/reduced economic viability as a result of soil depletion. He stated
that soil erosion leads to poor yield through loss of natural nutrients and
applied fertilizers. Organic matter from the soil residues and many applied
manure can be transported off the field, soil quality, stability and even
texture are affected.
2. Off-Site
Effect
Effect
Bunnet and Okunrotifa (2004), the off-site effect of soil erosion are not always an apparent
as the on-site or downstream damage as it affects towns, people, include
deterioration of water quality. This leads to pollution of rivers, death fish,
silting up of reservoir, high cost of dredging harbours. The polluted water
when drunk by man can cause sickness and even death. The increase in suspended
load means higher cost of drinking water. The flooding of inhabited area causes
mud flows, destruction of residential houses, bridges, etc.
as the on-site or downstream damage as it affects towns, people, include
deterioration of water quality. This leads to pollution of rivers, death fish,
silting up of reservoir, high cost of dredging harbours. The polluted water
when drunk by man can cause sickness and even death. The increase in suspended
load means higher cost of drinking water. The flooding of inhabited area causes
mud flows, destruction of residential houses, bridges, etc.
Soil or land erosion leads
to loss of lives and properties as it happened in Ibadan in recent years. It
can also lead to the land and water pollution through disposal of waste
indiscriminately.
to loss of lives and properties as it happened in Ibadan in recent years. It
can also lead to the land and water pollution through disposal of waste
indiscriminately.
Pollution of water can be
defined as a process of discharge of harmful substances into the water which
causes harm to man, plant animal and make it unfit for human consumption.
defined as a process of discharge of harmful substances into the water which
causes harm to man, plant animal and make it unfit for human consumption.
To know water pollution, it
is good to know the source of water supply and types of water with all that
brings about water borne diseases, which are dangerous to health of man such as
cholera, typhoid fever, schistosomiasis, dysentery and diarrhoea.
is good to know the source of water supply and types of water with all that
brings about water borne diseases, which are dangerous to health of man such as
cholera, typhoid fever, schistosomiasis, dysentery and diarrhoea.
Lal (2009) explained that
soil erosion leads to loss of lives and properties. He outlined some of the
effects thus;
soil erosion leads to loss of lives and properties. He outlined some of the
effects thus;
·
Damage to building, property and farmland
Damage to building, property and farmland
·
Unwanted spending of money through relocation of
victims who live in such area.
Unwanted spending of money through relocation of
victims who live in such area.
·
Destruction of roads and water pollution.
Destruction of roads and water pollution.
·
Reduction of nutrients in soil.
Reduction of nutrients in soil.
References
Bunnet, R.B. and Okunrotifa,
P. O. (2003): Geography in Diagrams for West African 8th ed., Longman Group
Limited, pp 35, 63, 84.
P. O. (2003): Geography in Diagrams for West African 8th ed., Longman Group
Limited, pp 35, 63, 84.
Henderson, (2006): “Causes and Effects of
Soil Erosion” Omaff Fact Sheet Index 573.
Soil Erosion” Omaff Fact Sheet Index 573.
Lal, R. (2009): Managing the Soil of Sub-Saharan Africa. Iowa State
University Press, pp 1069-1076.
University Press, pp 1069-1076.