Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Soil Degradation and loss of Fertility - Coggle Diagram
Soil Degradation and loss of Fertility
Geosphere & Soil Degradation Mapping
Spheres Interacting
Biosphere (Trigger)
Deforestation destroys vegetative root networks
Overgrazing exposes topsoil matrix
Intense agriculture depletes organic nutrients
Atmosphere (Acceleration)
Extreme heat accelerates surface evaporation
Bare, dry soil loses structural humidity
High wind shear removes fertile upper horizons
Hydrosphere (Stripping)
Direct rainfall hits unprotected soil
Heavy surface runoff washes away silt/clay
Mechanical erosion accelerates topsoil loss
Chemical Processes
1. Acidification & Leaching
Fertilizer nitrification: 2NH₄⁺ + 4O₂ → 2NO₃⁻ + 4H⁺ + 2H₂O
H⁺ ion accumulation spikes acidity
Nutrient Displacement: Soil-Ca²⁺ + 2H⁺(aq) → Soil-2H⁺ + Ca²⁺(aq)
Hydrosphere leaches Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ below root zones
2. Secondary Salinization
Over-irrigation raises the water table
Capillary action pulls mineral salts upward
Surface evaporation leaves salt crust: Na⁺(aq) + Cl⁻(aq) → NaCl(s)
Sodium disperses clay particles, choking plant roots
3. Organic Carbon Oxidation
Excessive tillage forces atmospheric O₂ into soil
Aerobic microbes hyper-activated
Humus breakdown: C(s, organic) + O₂(g) → CO₂(g)
Solid carbon is lost to the atmosphere as greenhouse gas
Solutions or Recommendations
Regenerative Farming
No-till farming preserves stable organic matter
Leaving crop residue safeguards against wind shear
Polyculture & Biological Fixation
Continuous cover crops anchor the soil
Legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen naturally
Hydrological Control
Drip irrigation prevents rising water tables
Controlled drainage halts salinization
Agroforestry
Deep tree roots anchor geosphere crust layers
Windbreaks mitigate atmospheric erosion