Some places such as desert or semi desert have very few plants covering the ground. Here wind can blow the drier top soil. The harder wind blows, the more soil it carries. A dust storm is an example of soil erosion by fast moving wind. Erosion by wind reduces the fertility of soil and helps in spread of deserts.
Protecting soil from erosion is called soil conservation. There are several methods of conserving the soil. Plants bind the soil with their roots. They offer the best protection against soil erosion. Trees can slow down the wind and prevent it from blowing away the soil. Planting grasses on hillsides also help to stop water from carrying away soil. To reduce soil erosion, framing in hilly areas is done by cutting steps in the slopes. This reduces the speed with which the water flows down. Also, some of the soil eroded from one step gets deposited on the next step. Thus soil erosion is considerably reduces.
In plains, soil erosion occurs in farmlands after a crop is harvested. The soil then lies bare and can be easily eroded by water and wind. Farmers often cover the bare soil with dried vegetation to protect it. Often grasses or creepers are grown to cover bare soil.
Protecting soil from erosion is called soil conservation. There are several methods of conserving the soil. Plants bind the soil with their roots. They offer the best protection against soil erosion. Trees can slow down the wind and prevent it from blowing away the soil. Planting grasses on hillsides also help to stop water from carrying away soil. To reduce soil erosion, framing in hilly areas is done by cutting steps in the slopes. This reduces the speed with which the water flows down. Also, some of the soil eroded from one step gets deposited on the next step. Thus soil erosion is considerably reduces.
In plains, soil erosion occurs in farmlands after a crop is harvested. The soil then lies bare and can be easily eroded by water and wind. Farmers often cover the bare soil with dried vegetation to protect it. Often grasses or creepers are grown to cover bare soil.