When a soil looses vegetation cover, it becomes more susceptible to wind and water erosion. In a process called deflation, wind entrains the finer soil particles and organic material from the soil. A concentrated layer of coarse sand with little or no structure is left behind. The loss of organic material decreases soil aggregation and stabilty, so the soil is left even more susceptible to aeolian erosion. The water-holding capacity and the nutrient content of the soil is reduced when organic material is lost, which is an additional strain on vegetation survival.
Water erosion has similar consequences as wind erosion.
When soils are low in organic matter, high in silt or exchangeable sodium, and are without vegetation cover, they are particularly vulnerable to surface crust formation due to rainsplash. Silt clogs the pores and creates a thin, smooth crusted soil surface which is largely impenetrable to water. Crusted surfaces result in low infiltration rates, increased runoff, and interference with seedling development. Certain improper grazing and cultivation practices also increase crusting. High erosion rates may scour down to the B horizon, which is more compact and usually poor in nitrogen and phosphorus.