Prevention of Soil Erosion and Torrential Floods

Abstract

Climatic conditions, precise relief features, variations of soil, flora cover, socio-economic conditions together lead to torrential flood waves as a result of current soil erosion processes. Erosion and torrential floods are aggravated due to over exploitation of agricultural and forest land along with urbanization. Effects of soil erosion include nutrient loss, land use changes, reduced productivity, siltation of water bodies, among other effects like affecting livelihood of marginal communities dependent on agriculture globally and public health. Nearly 11 million km2 of soil is impacted by erosion precisely by water. Other factors like intensified agriculture and climate change contribute to and aggravate the erosion rate. Contemporary torrential floods are characterized by their increased destruction and frequency unlike the pre-development periods when their occurrence was rare. The focus of this review is to compile and aid as a data base for understanding methods of preventing erosion of soil and torrential floods as put forth by various researchers.