Soil Erosion and Conservation
摘要
This chapter analyzes soil loss and conservation strategies in Korea, particularly focusing on rainfall-induced erosion. With 69% of agricultural land on slopes over 2%, Korea is highly susceptible to erosion, losing 20–30 tons of soil per hectare annually in upland areas. Soil erosionSoil erosion is exacerbated by factors such as rainfall intensity, slope, soil textureSoil texture, and poor agricultural practicesAgricultural practice(s). Using the universal soil loss equationUniversal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) (USLE), the study assesses erosion, finding high erosion rates in uplands despite Korea’s overall low erosion compared to OECD averages. Over the last five years, the area with low erosion increased by 9269.7 ha, while severe erosion areas grew by 1673.3 ha. Mitigation measures such as contour farming, mulching, no-till practices, and vegetative buffers are discussed, emphasizing their effectiveness in reducing soil loss by up to 89%. These practices are vital for sustainable land management and minimizing the adverse effects of erosion, especially amid changing climateClimate patterns.