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Lesson 3 of 9

Made slowly, lost quickly

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5 min

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Soil looks like it was always there. It was not. Rain can wash soil away.

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Rock breaks into tiny grains.
Step 1 of 4
  1. Rock breaks into tiny grains.
  2. Old leaves and roots rot into the grains.
  3. Over hundreds of years, a thin layer of soil forms.
  4. Heavy rain can wash it away.

Soil erosion — soil carried away by water or wind. Ground with no plants is bare.

Rule: Bare ground loses more soil than ground held by roots.

Bare ground has no roots, so nothing holds the soil.

Try the lab to finish this lesson.