Effects of Soil Erosion on Terrestrial Ecosystems
Soil erosion reduces the general productivity of terrestrial ecosystems . In the order of
importance, soil erosion increases water runoff thereby decreasing water infiltration and the
water-storage capacity of the soil . In addition, during the erosion process organic matter and essential
plant nutrients are removed from the soil and soil depth is reduced. These changes not only inhibit
vegetative growth but reduce the presence of valuable biota and the overall biodiversity of the
soil . These factors interact, making it almost impossible to separate the specific impacts of one
factor from another. For example, the loss of soil organic matter increases water runoff which reduces
the soil’s water-storage capacity, which diminishes nutrient levels in the soil and also reduces the natural
biota biomass and the biodiversity of soil ecosystems