Agricultural
soil pollution
Sources of Agricultural Soil Pollution
Acid Rain
Acid Rain is caused by air pollution. Agricultural air pollution comes mainly in the form of ammonia(NH3) from heavily fertilized fields and livestock waste. Then it reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOx) & sulphur(SO2) and mix with water and oxygen and form acid rain. The acidic water falls on the soil and pollutes it by making the soil acidic.
Agricultural Solid Wastes
1. Field waste
eg-weed,straw
2. Animal waste
eg-animal excreta,carcasses
3. Agro-industrial waste
eg-plastic,paddy husk etc
Fertilizers
The use of excess fertilizers to increase the crop yields makes the soil either acidic or alkaline and pollutes it. For example, excessive use of ammonium sulphate fertilizers makes the soil highly acidic whereas the excessive use of sodium nitrate fertilizers makes the soil highly alkaline.
Insecticides and Herbicides
Insecticides and Herbicides like sodium arsenite (Na3AsO3), sodium chlorate (NaCLO3) are poisonous chemicals which are used to spray standing crops to prevent them from harmful insects and herbs. These insecticides and herbicides mix with the soil and pollute it.
➤ Harmful Effects
The contamination of soil with solid waste, by acid rain, excess application of
fertilizers, Insecticides and herbicides is called agricultural soil pollution (or land pollution).
Sources of Agricultural Soil Pollution
- Acid Rain
- Agricultural solid Wastes
- Fertilizers
- Insecticides and
Herbicide
source: gardenguide.com
Acid Rain
Acid Rain is caused by air pollution. Agricultural air pollution comes mainly in the form of ammonia(NH3) from heavily fertilized fields and livestock waste. Then it reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOx) & sulphur(SO2) and mix with water and oxygen and form acid rain. The acidic water falls on the soil and pollutes it by making the soil acidic.
Agricultural Solid Wastes
1. Field waste
eg-weed,straw
2. Animal waste
eg-animal excreta,carcasses
3. Agro-industrial waste
eg-plastic,paddy husk etc
Fertilizers
The use of excess fertilizers to increase the crop yields makes the soil either acidic or alkaline and pollutes it. For example, excessive use of ammonium sulphate fertilizers makes the soil highly acidic whereas the excessive use of sodium nitrate fertilizers makes the soil highly alkaline.
Insecticides and Herbicides
Insecticides and Herbicides like sodium arsenite (Na3AsO3), sodium chlorate (NaCLO3) are poisonous chemicals which are used to spray standing crops to prevent them from harmful insects and herbs. These insecticides and herbicides mix with the soil and pollute it.
➤ Harmful Effects
- It will increase the exposure to toxic and harmful chemical thus increasing health threats to people living nearby and on the degraded land. Living in the contaminated soil can lead to respiratory disease , skin disease etc.
- The surface run-off water after raining will carry the polluted soil and enter into different water resources. Thus, it can cause underground water contamination thereby causing water pollution.
- The agro-industrial solid wastes destroy the natural beauty and become a breeding ground for mosquitoes which spread diseases like malaria and dengue.
- Land Pollution caused by acid rain reduce the fertility of soil leading to reduction of crop yields.
- The pollution caused by the excessive use of fertilizers also reduces the fertility of the soil and crop yields by making the soil either highly acidic or highly alkaline.
- The soil pollution caused by the use of insecticides and herbicides in agriculture is very dangerous because these chemicals can enter our food chain and damage our health.
➤ Modes
of Waste Disposal
“Disposal of
Wastes”-means ‘to get rid of waste’.
The disposal of waste should be done in a scientific way. There are different methods
of waste
disposal. The methods to be used depends on the nature of the waste. Some of the important
modes of waste disposal are:-
1. Landfills
Most of the solid wastes in urban areas are buried in low-lying areas to level the uneven ground. This is called Landfills.
2. Recycling
It is the method of recovery and processing of Biodegradable wastes or materials after they have been used, which enables them to be used. For example, solid wastes like paper, plastics and metals, etc., are recycled. Industrial wastes are treated in special plants and valuable wastes are recycled.
3. Composting
In this method, the domestic waste like fruit and vegetable waste, left-over food, leaves of potted plants etc., can be converted into compost and used as manure.
Most of the solid wastes in urban areas are buried in low-lying areas to level the uneven ground. This is called Landfills.
2. Recycling
It is the method of recovery and processing of Biodegradable wastes or materials after they have been used, which enables them to be used. For example, solid wastes like paper, plastics and metals, etc., are recycled. Industrial wastes are treated in special plants and valuable wastes are recycled.
3. Composting
In this method, the domestic waste like fruit and vegetable waste, left-over food, leaves of potted plants etc., can be converted into compost and used as manure.
4. Controlled Incineration
It means ‘reduction to ashes’. The burning of a substance at high temperature to form ash is called Incineration. It is used to destroy household waste, chemical waste and biological waste. Incineration is carried out in incinerator.
5. Production of Bio-gas & Manure
In this method Cow dung is fed into bio-gas plants to produce bio-gas and obtain manure.
It means ‘reduction to ashes’. The burning of a substance at high temperature to form ash is called Incineration. It is used to destroy household waste, chemical waste and biological waste. Incineration is carried out in incinerator.
5. Production of Bio-gas & Manure
In this method Cow dung is fed into bio-gas plants to produce bio-gas and obtain manure.
➤ CONCLUSION
Soil pollution is one of the major type
of pollution, this pollution is actually
present due to the activities of human like the human made chemical. The
major cause involves the industrial activity which leaves the harmful substance
in soil causing it's contamination. Also the agricultural chemicals are also
playing the part to make the soil dirty. Moreover human waste material improper disposal also
one of the major cause for this. Contamination of underground water
sources Also it causes the spread
of diseases very rapidly. The steps should be taken to stop it in order to
prevent the harmful effect of this pollution.
0 comments:
Post a Comment