Soil erosion

Soil erosion consists of the removal of soil material by water or, to a lesser extent, wind. This process is increasing in Europe. About 115 million hectares are suffering from the effects of water erosion and 42 million hectares from wind erosion.

The problem is greatest in the Mediterranean region but is found in all European countries.

Soil erosion may be caused by any human activities that expose it to the impact of rain or wind, or that increase the speed or amount of surface runoff water. Farming practices, such as ploughing slopes, removing vegetative soil cover, abandoning terraces, overstocking, poor crop management and rotation, and compaction by heavy machinery contribute to that process.

Deforestation and overgrazing are the main reasons for the severe erosion problems in many countries, especially in the Mediterranean.

The economic consequences of soil erosion are considerable.

Water erosion usually affects crop production by decreasing root depth, removing plant nutrients, eliminating organic matter, and occasionally uprooting plants and trees. Agricultural production losses may reach 30 percent of normal yields.

On high mountains, soils are predominantly shallow and covered with forest or non-intensive grassland. Due to the increased interest in winter sports, large areas have been developed into ski runs. The intensive use of slopes leads to physical deterioration of the soils and land compaction, which lead to erosion.

Practically all soils on sloping land are vulnerable to erosion, but sandy or silty soils in particular are at risk. Other factors like organic matter, infiltration rate, soil structure and surface also play an important role parallel to external factors such as topography, climate, vegetation and management practices.

A wide variety of possible technical solutions (strip and alley cropping, rotation farming, agro-forestry practices, adjusted stocking levels, use of cover drops, construction of mechanical barriers, etc.) can be chosen in order to limit erosion. However, other non-technological factors, such as population pressure, social structures, and economic and ecological factors, must also be taken into consideration.