Describe how soil erosion can limit the use of land as a resource, and explain how this problem can be overcome.

Answer:

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: Soil erosion is the weathering away of the Earth’s surface, usually by water, wind, and ice. A serious concern, especially for farmers, is the loss of topsoil. Rain can wash away vital topsoil needed for plant growth; and without protection, wind can erode away topsoil, removing its important nutrients. Without the topsoil and its nutrients, plants cannot survive. One method used to prevent erosion is leaving harvested crops, like corn stalks, on the land during the winter. Doing this may help guard against water and wind erosion. Farmers can also plant trees and shrubs along the edges of their fields. These act as windbreaks and may protect the land from wind erosion. There are also ways of preventing erosion if the land is not flat, such as contour planting.