Which of the following are responsible for soil degradation? 1. Soil erosion 2. Desertification 3. Mulching 4. SalinizationSelect the correct answer from the code given below.

🌍 Soil Degradation
→ Soil degradation is defined as a change in the soil health status, resulting in a diminished capacity of the ecosystem to provide goods and services for its beneficiaries.
→ Degraded soils have a health status such that they do not provide the normal goods and services of the particular soil in its ecosystem.

🔍 Issues associated with soil degradation
→ Soil erosion: The process by which soil particles and aggregates are removed and lost from their point of origin by wind or water or mass wasting from gravitational forces.
→ Desertification: Refers to the persistent degradation of dryland ecosystems due to climatic variations and human activities.
→ Salinization: The increase in salt concentration in soil, often caused by dissolved salts in the water supply.

📌 Important Points
🌿 Mulching
→ Mulching is the practice of covering soil surfaces with mulch.
→ Mulch is simply a protective layer of material spread on top of the soil.
→ Mulches can be organic (e.g., grass clippings, straw, bark chips) or inorganic (e.g., stones, brick chips, plastic).

📝 Additional Information
→ Mulches conserve soil moisture, enhance the nutrients status of soil, control erosion losses, suppress weeds in crop plants, and remove the residual effects of pesticides, fertilizers, and heavy metals.
→ Mulches improve the aesthetic value of landscapes and the economic value of crops.