Question

Analyse the measures adopted to prevent soil erosion caused due to natural forces.

Answer 1

There are various measures which can be adopted to prevent soil erosion caused due to natural forces.

1. Ploughing along the contour lines can decelerate the flow of water down the slopes. This is called contour ploughing.
2. Steps can be cut out on the slopes, making terraces. Terrace cultivation restricts erosion. Western and central Himalayas have well-developed terrace farming.
3. Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to grow between the crops. This breaks up the force of the wind. This method is known as strip cropping.
4. Planting lines of trees to create shelter also works in a similar way. Rows of such trees are called shelter belts. These shelter belts have contributed significantly to the stabilisation of sand dunes and in stabilising the desert in western India.
5. Natural forces like wind, glaciers and water lead to soil erosion.