Abstract

Soil erosion usually degrades soil quality and a soil of poorer quality is less able to withstand further erosion, thus creating a downward spiral of soil degradation. Erosion increases the variability in soil quality across a field and, on a broad scale, is associated with widespread loss of agricultural productivity and declining water quality. Agricultural soils are particularly susceptible to wind and water erosion, and also to a recently recognized process known as tillage erosion.