Agricultural Lands Are Losing Topsoil—Here’s How Bad It Could Get

June 11, 2024

Topsoil formation is extremely slow, less than a tenth of a millimeter per year in some areas, whereas agricultural erosion in the U.S. averages around half a millimeter annually, threatening the sustainability of America's farmland. Bruno Basso, a soil scientist at Michigan State University, highlights the severity of the issue, noting, “We lose about a pound of soil for every bushel of corn that is produced.” The study predicts that topsoil erosion, exacerbated by climate change, could increase by 8% to 21% by 2050, especially in the South and East. While soil erosion predictions are complex due to various factors, including agricultural practices and climate patterns, adopting strategies like cover cropping and alley cropping could mitigate the loss. However, effective policy and broader adoption of these practices are essential for success.

See original article at: EOS.org