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Vegetative cover is the term used to refer to all the plants that are growing on a particular plot of land. Vegetative cover is extremely important in controlling erosion of soil. The root systems of plants, bushes, and trees help hold soil in place during even the most severe rainstorms.
Humans sometimes clear land of all vegetation to make room for the construction of housing developments and other buildings. With little or no plant life, the soil is susceptible to erosion, which can make the land unstable. Large amounts of topsoil and subsoil can wash away. The photo to the right shows an example of this; large amounts of sediment eroded from land that was destabilized at a construction site has partially clogged this drainage culvert.
Urbanization does not just contribute to the problem of erosion. As land is converted to roads, buildings, and parking lots, there is less open ground to absorb rainwater runoff. With nowhere to go, rainwater collects in one general area, and flooding becomes more prevalent in that area. For example, in the photo, runoff has found the lowest point in the parking lot and is now eroding a gully in the stream bank as large amounts of fast-moving water exit the parking lot after a rain. With significant amounts of rain that now run off the parking lot instead of being able to soak into the ground as it did before the parking lot was paved, the stream can flood.
Agriculture is essential to human survival, but when not practiced correctly, it can have a negative impact on the pedosphere. Crops continuously grown in the same soil year after year can deplete that soil of vital nutrients. Farmers use several different methods to help correct this problem.
Crop rotation is a basic process that involves rotating the types of crops grown every few years. This helps replenish the soil's nutrients. The photo shows how farmers in the Midwest are practicing crop rotation.
This aerial photograph of cropland in Kansas shows crop rotation. Fields planted in corn are bright green. Fields planted in sorghum are lighter green. Fields planted in wheat are gold. Brown fields were not being cultivated at the time of the photo.
Farmers also use fertilizers to help balance the soil's composition. The use of fertilizers poses its own set of problems. Many fertilizers contain harsh chemicals that can easily pollute nearby water sources. Scientists and farmers are continuously working together to develop safer and more productive ways to grow crops.
Many human activities have the effect of polluting air, water, and soil, all essential to human survival. All of these types of pollution can be dramatically cut back through human intervention. Humans must be more conscientious of how we use the Earth. By monitoring the conditions of air, water, and soil, we can take steps toward correction and prevention of problems. This process of being responsible for and taking care of our natural resources is known as stewardship.
Today, we have many methods of monitoring the condition of our planet. For example, through satellite we can track weather, crustal plate movement, fires, soil erosion, and many other lithospheric occurrences. With this technology and stewardship, we can better monitor the depletion and conservation of soil.