Land Land Erosion Erosion and Soil and Soil SalinitySalinity

© Karen Devine 2010

Erosion of LandErosion of Land The causes of the The causes of the

erosion of land erosion of land include:include:

a)a) total removal of total removal of covering vegetationcovering vegetation

b)b) overcultivation of soilovercultivation of soilc)c) compaction of soil by compaction of soil by

machinery or foot machinery or foot traffic (including traffic (including animal hoofs)animal hoofs)

© Karen Devine 2010

Erosion of LandErosion of Landd) d) contamination by contamination by

pesticide and pesticide and overuse of fertilisersoveruse of fertilisers

e) e) overgrazing by overgrazing by animalsanimals

f) f) development which development which causes damage to causes damage to ecosystems, flooding ecosystems, flooding and loss of species.and loss of species.

© Karen Devine 2010

Erosion of LandErosion of Landg) g) use of irrigation use of irrigation

systems which alters systems which alters the water table.the water table.

h) h) increase in salinity increase in salinity due to replacement of due to replacement of deep rooted deep rooted vegetation with vegetation with shallow rooted shallow rooted vegetation.vegetation.

i) i) removal of vegetation removal of vegetation on slopes and river on slopes and river banks.banks.

© Karen Devine 2010

Erosion of LandErosion of Land

j) j) removal of removal of stubble after stubble after the harvesting the harvesting of cropsof crops

k) k) pollution of pollution of water.water.

© Karen Devine 2010

Soil SalinitySoil Salinity Soil salinitySoil salinity is a worsening problem is a worsening problem

for Australia’s lands ultimately leading for Australia’s lands ultimately leading to to infertilityinfertility and and barrenness.barrenness.

© Karen Devine 2010

Soil SalinitySoil Salinity

Soil salinity will Soil salinity will result in:result in:

a)a) dead floradead flora

b)b) removal of removal of vegetationvegetation

c)c) sick looking plantssick looking plants

d)d) stunted plant growthstunted plant growth

e)e) ““survival of the survival of the fittest”.fittest”.

© Karen Devine 2010

Soil SalinitySoil Salinity The salt which poisons The salt which poisons

fertile land is derived from:fertile land is derived from:a)a) erosion of rocks.erosion of rocks.b)b) deposition of salty deposition of salty

sediments by wind or sediments by wind or water.water.

c)c) deposited salt from nearby deposited salt from nearby salt lakes or pans.salt lakes or pans.

d)d) irrigation of land which irrigation of land which raises the water table.raises the water table.

e)e) clearing lands causing a clearing lands causing a rising water table.rising water table.

f)f) planting of shallow rooted planting of shallow rooted plants after removing plants after removing deeply rooted plants.deeply rooted plants.

© Karen Devine 2010

Soil SalinitySoil Salinity The solutions to The solutions to

soil salinity soil salinity include:include:

a)a) decreasing decreasing irrigation.irrigation.

b)b) avoidance of avoidance of mono-cropping.mono-cropping.

c)c) planting of planting of saltbush.saltbush.

d)d) establishing soil establishing soil regeneration regeneration zones.zones.

© Karen Devine 2010

Question Time?Question Time?

Watch Film on SoWatch Film on Soil Salinity.il Salinity.

Explain the Explain the development of development of Lake Eyre.Lake Eyre.

© Karen Devine 2010