5 Causes of Dry and Cracked Soil and Their Impacts on Life
28 November 2023
Land that experiencing dry and cracked conditions seriously affects agricultural productivity, ecology, and the environment. This condition negatively impacts plants and causes an imbalance in the ecosystem. What are the actual causes of dry and cracked soil?
There are many reasons why soil can become dry and cracked, one occurring naturally. This condition can worsen with various poor habits practiced by the surrounding community.
If Sobat Honda plans to farm in an area with dry and cracked soil conditions, using a water pump for irrigation is essential. Honda Power Products provides a variety of water pumps equipped with reliable engines and advanced technology.
As for the causes of dry and cracked soil, Sobat Honda can find a comprehensive explanation below.
5 Causes of Dry and Cracked Soil
Soil experiencing dry and cracked conditions becomes an increasingly severe problem in various regions. Cracked soil is an aesthetic concern and indicates an imbalance in the soil ecosystem that can have broad impacts. Several factors trigger these soil conditions to become dry and cracked, which will be further elaborated below.
Read Also: How To Maintain Soil Fertility?
1. Lack of Rainfall and Global Warming
One of the leading causes of dry and cracked soil is the lack of rainfall, often associated with global climate change. Increasing surface temperature due to global warming leads to faster evaporation from the ground and water surfaces. As a result, soil moisture decreases, and the soil becomes dry.
As a result, soil moisture decreases and the soil becomes dry. Ultimately, plants do not receive sufficient water supply to grow properly, causing low agricultural productivity and threatening food availability.
2. Human Activities and Soil Degradation
Unwise land use, such as deforestation and urbanization, can cause severe soil degradation. Soil unprotected from erosion will lose its fertile humus layer, and its physical structure will deteriorate.
Degraded soil tends to become rigid, making it difficult to absorb water properly. This results in rainwater flowing on the surface and not infiltrating, increasing the risk of floods and damaging water ecosystems.
3. Improper Irrigation Practices
While irrigation is a crucial way to provide water to plants, improper usage can lead to soil becoming too wet or too dry. Excessive irrigation can cause water to pool on the soil surface, hinder air circulation, and lead to soil compaction.
Conversely, insufficient irrigation can cause soil to lose moisture and drought. Sobat Honda needs to use compatible water pumps, such as those available from Honda Power Products, to ensure optimal irrigation.
4. Soil Pollution
When toxic chemicals from industries, pesticides, and other human activities contaminate the soil, the effects can be more damaging than what is visible on the surface. Soil pollution can lead to significant changes in soil structure and physical properties.
These toxic substances damage the structure of healthy soil and hinder its natural ability to retain water. As a result, contaminated soil becomes rugged and compact, making the soil even drier and unable to provide nutrients to plant roots effectively.
5. Changes in Natural Land Use
The conversion of natural lands such as forests and grasslands into urban areas can alter soil texture and structure. The land, meant initially as a natural habitat, possesses an innate ability to maintain soil moisture balance.
The transformation of natural land disrupts the texture and structure developed over centuries. Soil that once absorbed rainwater effectively loses this ability due to the land being turned into hard surfaces or covered in concrete.
This process affects the soil's ability to retain moisture and makes it more susceptible to drought when dry seasons arrive.
Impacts of Dry Soil
Now that Sobat Honda knows the causes of dry and cracked soil, it is essential to understand the impacts on life. These impacts affect the surrounding environment and significantly influence ecosystem sustainability, agriculture, and overall human well-being. Let's directly examine the various effects on life below.
1. Decreased Agricultural Productivity
Dry and cracked soil poses a severe challenge to agricultural productivity. The lack of necessary water supply for plant growth directly affects harvest yields.
Plants growing in these conditions become more vulnerable to pest attacks and diseases. Dry soil reduces plant growth potential and disrupts the balance of microorganisms that support plant growth.
As a result, harvest yields fall far below expectations, and it could threaten local and global food security. Decreased agricultural production could lead to rising food prices, affecting people's access to adequate nutrition and destabilizing food availability in various regions.
2. Increased Soil Erosion
Dry soil tends to become stiff and unable to absorb rainwater properly, increasing the risk of intense soil erosion. Increased erosion can damage the nutrient-rich topsoil layer, which is crucial for plant growth.
As a result of reduced fertile soil layers, soil fertility has decreased drastically, and resulted in a further decline in agricultural productivity. In addition, sediment carried by rainwater can contaminate water sources, including rivers and lakes. This has an impact on aquatic ecosystems, causing siltation, water pollution and a decrease in water quality.
Disruption in aquatic ecosystems affects aquatic life, such as fish and other water organisms, threatening the vital balance of water ecosystems that support various life forms.
Read Also: 8 Characteristics Of Fertile Soil For Plants
3. Scarcity of Clean Water Sources
One of the more noticeable impacts of dry soil is the scarcity of clean water sources. Soil unable to retain water effectively leads to rainwater flowing on the surface without infiltration.
As a result, groundwater stored in the subsurface becomes scarce, reducing water supply for humans and animals. Surface water sources such as rivers and lakes also experience decreased levels, threatening drinking water availability and disrupting aquatic ecosystems.
Shortage of clean water has serious consequences for human health and animal life. Humans rely on clean water for drinking, cooking, sanitation, and agricultural irrigation. Limited access to clean water can spread disease and restrict daily activities.
Animals also depend on water sources for hydration and survival. Water scarcity caused by dry soil can trigger fierce competition among humans, animals, and ecosystems, threatening ecological balance and community well-being.
4. Microclimate Changes
An impact of dry soil that should be addressed is the change in microclimate within a region. Dry soil struggles to effectively absorb rainwater, causing rainwater to flow on the surface rather than infiltrate.
This condition raises surface temperatures as the soil lacks the cooling effect when water infiltrates the soil. The increase in surface soil temperature contributes to changes in the area's microclimate.
Changes in microclimate can have significant effects on the surrounding environment. Higher temperatures can trigger extreme heat conditions, disrupt thermal balance, and reduce human comfort.
Furthermore, these temperature changes affect plant development and ecosystems by altering plant life cycles and microorganism activities. These changes in microclimate create environmental instability that affects the quality of life and community comfort within the region.
5. Disruption of Biodiversity
Healthy ecosystems rely on various interconnected forms of wildlife. However, dry and cracked soil can damage natural habitats for many species of animals and plants.
Plants that normally provide shelter and a food source for wild animals become dry and brittle, depriving them of the protection necessary for their survival.
Disturbances to wildlife can threaten biodiversity. Species that depend on specific plants for food or shelter may face serious challenges.
Moreover, a domino effect can occur throughout the food chain if one species experiences population decline or extinction due to poor soil conditions. Disruptions to wildlife endanger the balance of ecosystems and natural sustainability, ultimately impacting humans.
Severe soil and water conservation steps need to be taken to address the causes of dry and cracked soil and their impacts. Reducing excessive water usage, implementing sustainable farming practices, and preserving natural lands are ways to maintain ecosystem balance and ensure soil remains fertile and productive.
Sobat Honda can use irrigation systems for regular watering to implement sustainable farming and encourage healthier plant growth. There are various irrigation systems that Sobat Honda can implement according to their needs.
Sobat Honda naturally requires water pumps with optimal performance in applying these irrigation systems. Honda water pumps come with exclusive technology, reliable features, and details, designed with robust iron impeller housings and powered by Honda's commercial-grade 4-stroke engines.
Read Also: 7 Most Effective Ways To Solve Airlock In Water Pump
Discover the best and most reliable water pump according to what Sobat Honda needs, exclusively from Honda Power Products. Check the specifications and prices now!
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