Soil Erosion in Humid Regions: A Review

摘要

Erosion is a critical process for land and watershed managers to understand, as sediment is the world's leading surface water pollutant. Excessive erosion results in significant topsoil losses, leading to declines in agricultural productivity. Reservoir lifespans can be shortened due to excessive sedimentation behind dams. Sediment can carry bound nutrients such as phosphorus, which contribute to the eutrophication of freshwater resources and coastal estuaries (Rabalais et al. 2010). Stream and river habitat for fish and macroinvertebrates can become degraded when benthic habitats are covered with sediment, resulting in declines in freshwater biodiversity (Bilotta and Brazier 2008).