What are the three greatest factors that cause erosion?

Water, wind and tillage are the three greatest factors in erosion. Erosion occurs through soil detachment, movement and deposition, and pollutes nearby waterways, often creating an unstable base that can lead to a permanent loss in land.

Water erodes the earth through rainfall and runoff. Heavy rainfall breaks down the soil surface and disperses the material.

Wind can cause major losses of soil. Depending on the particle size and wind strength, soil can be moved through suspension, saltation and surface creep.

Tillage erosion occurs when soil is redistributed through agricultural practices or gravity. Soil moves down the slope, resulting in soil loss on the upper-slope locations.