Soil erosion on arable land: An unresolved global environmental threat

Abstract

Rationale and scope: Although soil erosion was recognised as a serious problem in antiquity and research into erosion started in the early 20th century, it remains a substantial problem for agriculture and the environment across the globe. It disrupts agricultural production, threatening food production, increases the severity of floods and droughts and impacts on soil biology and biogeochemical cycling. This review describes the different processes and manifestations of erosion on arable land and the availability of global data. It points out that while there is a good understanding of the processes of erosion, the causes are complex and even if agronomic and landscape solutions are available, their implementation is challenging and needs tailored approaches to account for the specific local socio-economic, political, and institutional contexts.