What are two significant effects of soil erosion?

Soil erosion causes loss of fertile topsoil and water pollution. The removal of nutrient-rich topsoil severely reduces agricultural productivity, as this layer contains the organic matter and minerals essential for plant growth. It can take hundreds to thousands of years to naturally form just one inch of topsoil, but intensive erosion can remove it in mere decades. This loss forces farmers to use more fertilizers, increasing costs and environmental impacts. Additionally, eroded soil particles carry pesticides, fertilizers, and other pollutants into waterways, degrading water quality and harming aquatic ecosystems. Sediment accumulation in rivers and reservoirs reduces water storage capacity, increases flooding risk, and disrupts navigation. Soil erosion also contributes to dust storms, loss of biodiversity, and desertification, making it one of the most serious environmental challenges globally.