Land Degradation In The Murray Darling Basin

Land degradation is a process in which the value of the biophysical environment is affected by a combination of human-induced processes acting upon the land. (definition)

This is a result of using land and other resources beyond their capability. An area where land degradation has been occurring over the past two centuries, at an excruciating rate, is in the Murray–Darling Basin. Wind and water-induced erosion are major land degradation problems in the Basin. Another major land degradation problem is soil erosion.

Wind erosion involves the loss of the finer soil particles. (Definition) It’s a problem in the drier parts of the Basin, especially in areas with sandy soils, things like cultivation, which breaks down soil particles into sizes that

If eroded the soil is effected as it drops, crops are buried under the soil and die from no oxygen or carbon dioxide, roads and fences are covered, and the drains get clogged up with soil.

Water-induced soil erosion has many forms and can result in large volumes of soil being lost. (Definition) “Most Australian soils are very shallow and have the bulk of nutrients in the top few centimetres.” (Forgot to site)The top few centimetres of soil is lost due to this erosion and can damage the soil for the future such as growing plants; they will not have enough nutrients from the soil to stay alive and well because this soil is unproductive, often and prone to further erosion.

The demands on the land for economic development and pressures from a thriving and growing population are leading to a loss of environmental space and land use change. For this reason, unsustainable land use is driving land degradation.

Both wind and water contribute to soil erosion and

There are plenty of people who live outside the Basin too, over 1.3 million people. The people in this community are affected as the soil is extremely important to the farmers as they depend on well managed agriculture. (Fact)

Increased Flooding – flood plains are converted into crop fields, which are unable to soak up water which increases the risk of mass flooding. Eventually these crops die because the soil cannot soak up any water to allow them to grow. In conclusion the community is affected by this. This can be dealt with by maintaining and restoring wetlands.

“The Earth is comprised of countless species that create a dynamic and complex ecosystem and is among the most precious resources to humans.” (Forgot to site)The large demand for agriculture commodities creates the thought to convert forests and grasslands to farm fields and pastures. (Fact) This transition from agriculture to natural vegetation is not appropriate for many plants as they cannot grow in which they can(not) be able to survive such as coffee, cotton, palm oil, which can actually increase soil erosion beyond the soil’s ability to maintain