ENVS 2060 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Municipal Solid Waste, Limiting Factor, Humus
26 Jul 2020
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Unit 10: soil quality and degradation through human activity. Loss of organic matter content and deterioration of soil structure. First aspects of soil that is changed with use is the organic matter content. Soil disturbance (like cultivation) that alters plant growth and carbon cycling alters organic matter content. When organic content decreases soil becomes less stable. Soils can be more easily compacted leads to non favourable conditions for plant growth. Soil structure disintegrates and detached particles are more susceptible to erosion from wind and water. Change in soil matter soil more susceptible to degradation. Soil degradation usually refers to accelerated erosion. Accelerated erosion is not natural but a product of human activity and soil use. Accelerated erosion is able to be limited. Potential sources for sediment that can be deposited into surface waterways: erosion near urban centers, erosion on construction sites, or land left bare prior to development.
