DEGRADATION OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS CAUSED BY EROSION (CASE STUDY, VERMES COMMUNE, CARAS-SEVERIN COUNTY)

Soil erosion is the washing process of the genetic horizons of soil rich in humus and of nutritive elements important for plant development, appearing on sloped surfaces by water action, followed by downhill sedimentation or sedimentation in water courses which carry these materials in lakes and seas. Thus, the sloped soils remain exposed to erosion and degradation processes.Because of land cultivation by inappropriate technologies, the quality of soilsdecreases and these are exposed to degradation of physical and chemical properties of horizon A and of subsequent others. Of course, this phenomenon is not immediately, its intensity and amplitude depends on anthropic factor (human activity), one of the most important factors, sometimes with disastrous consequences.Territory is affected by surface erosion with different intensities, and partially was observed landslide, especially at the origin of erosion valleys. The surface affected by erosion with different intensities is approximately by 11,5%