THE INTERACTION OF SOIL PARENT MATERIAL AND EROSIVE FORCES IN LANDSCAPE DEGRADATION

Soil is a fundamental natural resource that underpins agricultural productivity, ecosystem stability, and environmental sustainability. Despite its importance, soil erosion remains a major global challenge, threatening the long-term viability of land resources. Soil erosion involves the detachment, transportation, and deposition of soil particles by agents such as water and wind, and although it is a natural process, its intensity is significantly increased by human activities including deforestation, overgrazing, and inappropriate agricultural practices. Accelerated soil erosion leads to the loss of fertile topsoil, degradation of soil structure, and decline in agricultural productivity. Beyond on-site impacts, erosion contributes to off-site problems such as sedimentation of rivers and reservoirs, reduced water quality, and disruption of aquatic ecosystems. The susceptibility of soils to erosion is strongly influenced by inherent soil properties such as parent material, texture, and structure, which determine their resistance to erosive forces. Understanding the interactions between soil characteristics and erosion processes is therefore essential for developing effective soil conservation and sustainable land management strategies.