• Provides state-of-the-knowledge information on soil degradation in the U.S.

• Discusses the different processes that contribute to soil degradation, including water erosion, wind erosion, soil organic C depletion, and more

• Contains five appendices: Methods, Data Sources and Tables, Abbreviations, Units, and Researchable Topics

Soil Degradation in the United States is an assessment of current trends and geographic hot spots. It not only describes the types of soil degradation, but also evaluates the processes and triggers that cause the damage.

Written by world-renowned leaders in the field of soil science, the book is thematically divided into three sections: Section I addresses basic processes and discusses concepts and definitions, land use change, and global trends. Section II provides the data on soil degradation by various processes such as water and wind erosion, salt build-up, and soil contamination. Section III summarizes the magnitude and severity of degradation and addresses policy issues in relation to economic and environmental impact. Several appendices provide much needed information on past trends and future projections.

This book is a state-of-the-art compendium that provides a ready reference and data source for soil scientists, agronomists, environmentalists, land managers, and policy makers.

Contents

1. Basic Processes
   • Soil Degradation
   • Soil
   • Soil Degradation
   • Factors of Soil Degradation
   • Causes of Soil Degradation
   • Land vs. Soil Degradation
   • Soil Degradation vs. Soil Formation
   • Soil Quality
   • Soil Exhaustion vs. Soil Degradation
   • Soil Resilience
   • Soil Degradation and Desertification

2. Global Extent of Soil Degradation and Desertification
   • Background
   • Database, Methodology, and Extrapolation
   • GLASOD Methodology
   • Desertification Assessment
   • The Need for a Strong and Credible Database

3. Land Use in the U.S.
   • Definitions
   • Land Use Classes
   • Database
   • Land Use in the U.S.
   • Trends in Cropland
   • Trends in Grazing Land

4. Soil Degradation Category Indicators Methodology
   • Soil Degradation
   • Water Erosion, Sheet and Rill (E)-Degradation of Land through the Process of Sheet and Rill Soil Erosion by Water
   • Water Erosion, Concentrated Flow (E)-Degradation of
   • Land through the Process of Concentrated Flow Erosion (i.e., Gullying, Streambank Cover and Use Categories of Rangeland)
   • Wind Erosion (E)-Degradation of Land through Soil Erosion by Wind
   • Salinization (S)-Degradation of Land through Salt Accumulation
   • Mining or Other Soil Rmoval/Destruction (M)--
   • Degradatoin of Land through Soil Destruction
   • Vegetative Condition/Status (V)-Degradation of Land through Degradation of the Quantity, Quality, or Ecological Status of Vegetative Land Cover (Applied Only to the Broad Land Cover/Use Category of Rangeland)

5. Water and Wind Erosion
   • Soil Erosion by Water from Croplands
   • Cropland Area Affected by Water Erosion
   • Severity of Sheet and Rill Erosion on U.S. Cropland
   • Magnitude of Soil Erosion on U.S. Cropland
   • Prime Cropland and Severity of Sheet and Rill Erosion
   • Erosion Rate on Highly Erodible Cropland
   • Distribution of Eroded Cropland in the U.S.

6. Soil Erosion by Water from Grazing, CRP and Minor Lands
   • Pastureland Area Affected by Water Erosion
   • Severity of Soil Erosion on Pastureland
   • Magnitude and Rate of Soil Erosion on Pastureland
   • Soil Erosion on CRP Land
   • Minor Land Affected by Water Erosion
   • Total Land Area Affected by Water Erosion on Private U.S. Land

7. Wind Erosion on Private Lands in the U.S.
   • Cropland Area Affected by Wind Erosion
   • Wind Erosion on Irrigated and Nonirrigated Cropland
   • Severity of Wind Erosion on U.S. Cropland
   • Wind Erosion on U.S. Cropland for Different Severity Classes
   • Wind Erosion on Grazing Land
   • Wind Erosion on CRP Land
   • Wind Erosion on Minor Miscellaneous Land
   • Comparison of Wind Erosion Hazard among Predominant Land Uses
   • Total Land Area on U.S. Private Land Affected by Wind Erosion

8. Water and Wind Erosion on U.S. Cropland
   • The Extent of Sheet, Rill, and Wind Erosion on Cropland
   • The Magnitude of Sheet, Rill, and Wind Erosion
   • The Rate of Sheet, Rill, and Wind Erosion

9. Total Erosion, Wind Erosion, and Erosion on Pasture and CRP Lands
   • Total Erosion on Pastureland
   • Total Erosion on CRP Land
   • Wind Erosion in the U.S.
   • Total Wind and Water Erosion in the U.S.
   • Sediment Load in U.S. Rivers

10. Other Forms of Degradation
    • Desertification
    • Arid Lands in the U.S.
    • The Extent and Severity of Desertification
    • Degradation of Rangeland Vegetation
    • Rangeland Degradation by Concentrated Flow and Wind Erosion
    • Desertification Control

11. Salinization
    • Irrigated Land Area in the U.S.
    • Cropland Affected by Salinization
    • Grazing Land Affected by Salinization
    • Other Lands Affected by Salinization

12. Soil Degradation by Mining and Other Disturbance
    • Historic Records of Soil Disturbance by Mining
    • Soil Degradation by Mining
    • Soil Disturbance by Mining on Cropland
    • Soil Disturbance by Mining on Grazing Land
    • Total Soil Disturbance by Mining

13. Wetland Degradation
    • Types of Wetlands
    • Wetland Soils
    • Historic Loss of Wetlands
    • Consequences of Wetland Loss

14. Policy and Conservation Programs
    • Policy Options
    • History of Soil Conservation Programs in the U.S.
    • Impact of Conservation Policies in the U.S.
    • Future Policy Options

Appendices

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