Arrange the sequence in terms of the increasing order of soil loss from the field due to water erosions: (A) Gully erosion (B) Rill erosion (C) Splash erosion (D) Sheet erosion

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (D) (C), (D), (B), (A)

Explanation:
• Water erosion progresses through specific stages, each generally more destructive and causing higher soil loss than the previous one.
• Splash Erosion (C): The first stage, where raindrops detach soil particles upon impact. Soil loss is minimal compared to other stages.
• Sheet Erosion (D): Uniform removal of a thin layer of soil from the entire surface. It is often called 'silent killer' because it is hard to detect but removes the fertile topsoil.
• Rill Erosion (B): Occurs when water concentrates in small, well-defined channels. These rills can be smoothed out by normal tillage operations.
• Gully Erosion (A): The most advanced stage, where rills enlarge into deep channels (gullies) that cannot be removed by normal tillage. This causes the highest volume of soil loss.

Information Booster:
• Ravines are advanced forms of gullies, as seen in the Chambal region of India.
• The energy of falling raindrops is the primary driver of the splash stage, while runoff volume and velocity drive the subsequent stages.

Additional Knowledge:
• Splash (C): Focuses on detachment.
• Sheet (D): Focuses on transport of detached particles in thin films.
• Rill (B): Represents the transition to concentrated flow.
• Gully (A): Represents catastrophic soil loss and land degradation.