Rinsing

When rinsing is defined as the elutriation of fine material from the surface by rain water run-off; it depends on the type and amount of precipitation , the vegetation cover (the type of vegetation ) and the slope . If the latter is low, there is surface flushing , which in the case of heavier rain and steeper slopes turns into groove flushing , with which soil erosion begins.

Rinsing in extreme form creates the so-called badlands , a landscape form made up of a multitude of small gorges and unstable low ridges.

Without suitable countermeasures, soil fertility suffers . The undesired input of nutrients into surface waters can also have adverse consequences for the plant nutrients washed away with the soil.

The deposition of the washed-off material is referred to in the geosciences as alluvial deposits and especially in geomorphology as colluvium ( alluvium ). A type of soil created from washed away material is called Kolluvisol .

Web links

• Example of washed-off topsoil (environmental theme park)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Nutrient inputs into the surface waters of Germany, made available by the Federal Environment Agency ( Memento from February 12, 2013 in the web archive archive.today ).