The Lower Wye landscape was formed by the river acting on a series of layers of rock that dip towards the Forest of Dean. Here the river has incised into the margins of the Old Red Sandstone plateau to form a gorge with substantial river cliffs.

Both natural and human- caused factors affect the amount of erosion a stream may experience. Natural factors include the gradient (or steepness) of the streambed since that affects the speed of the flow of water. Rainfall and snowmelt affect the amount of water in a stream as well as the speed of the flow.

The geology of an area influences the rate of river erosion. Rivers flowing over hard rock have a slower rate of erosion as the bedrock is more resistant. Therefore, in areas where there are both hard and soft rocks, river channels are more likely to form along the path of the softer rock.

Rivers erode in four ways: Abrasion or corrasion – This is when large pieces of bedload material wear away the river banks and bed. Attrition – This is when the bed load itself is eroded when sediment particles knock against the bed or each other and break, becoming more rounded and smaller.

Contents

• 1 Contour ploughing.
• 2 Terrace farming.
• 3 Keyline design.
• 4 Perimeter runoff control.
• 5 Windbreaks.
• 6 Cover crops/crop rotation.
• 7 Soil-conservation farming.
• 8 Salinity management.

4 Types of Soil Conservation

• Why Soil Conservation? Good soil conservation helps to put nutrients back into the soil.
• No-Till Farming. Farming land without tilling, or no-till farming, is something soil conservation professionals recommend.
• Crop Rotation and Cover Crops.
• Windbreaks and Stream Buffers.

Thus, the correct answer is ‘Overgrazing.

25+ Wonderful Ways to Conserve and Protect Soil

1. Forest Protection. The natural forest cover in many areas has been decreased due to commercial activity.
2. Buffer Strips.
3. No-Till Farming.
4. Fewer Concrete Surfaces.
5. Plant Windbreak Areas.
6. Terrace Planting.
7. Plant Trees to Secure Topsoil.
8. Crop Rotation.

Soil is the basis for sustenance for 7 billion people. It preserves clean water and helps regulate the climate. Soil degradation reduces agricultural yields and threatens farmers’ livelihoods. Soil that has been leached of its nutrients cannot support crops, or plants that prevent desertification.

You can reduce soil erosion by:

1. Maintaining a healthy, perennial plant cover.
2. Mulching.
3. Planting a cover crop – such as winter rye in vegetable gardens.
4. Placing crushed stone, wood chips, and other similar materials in heavily used areas where vegetation is hard to establish and maintain.