Human activities like over cultivation, unrestricted grazing, deforestation and poor irrigation practices results into ________.

Key Points

• Desertification refers to the process by which an area is converted to a desert, which is marked by dry-arid land and lack of vegetation.
• Soil erosion is the removal of the top layer of soil.
• The topmost layer of the soil is the most fertile and may be removed in two ways:
  • Natural - It is extremely slow removal of topsoil due to rainwater or wind. 
  • Anthropogenic - It is caused by various human activities.
• Some of the anthropogenic causes include:
  • Overcultivation - This depletes the soil fertility beyond repair, leading to desertification.
  • Unrestricted grazing - Overgrazing in grasslands may also loosen up the roots of grasses, allowing soil erosion.
  • Deforestation - This refers to the cutting of forest trees, the roots of which hold the soil together.
  • Poor irrigation - This increases water run-offs in agricultural fields, which increases soil erosion.

The given activities all lead to soil erosion and desertification.

Hence, the correct answer is option 2.