| Summary: | Soil erosion is one of the most significant factors in the degradation of agricultural land, because it causes soil particles to be displaced, transported and deposited in different places through the actions of water or wind. Together with non-erosive degradations that include, among others, contamination or salinization, these processes deteriorate the quality of the soil. As a result, soil compaction can occur, as can a reduction in its organic matter content, drainage problems, the loss of soil structure, decreased crop yields, the loss of soil nutrients and, finally, the reduction of soil productivity.
Anthropic actions can cause changes in soils and have accelerated erosion rates and diverted nutrient flows. When the use of the soil changes, especially in conditions of great fragility, the region in question will often display a significant tendency toward erosion. Soil erosion, as a primary condition of desertification, has become a subject of public concern and intense research.
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