Question

Explain some harmful effects of agricultural practices on the environment.

Answer 1

Harmful effects of agricultural practices on the environment:

• Soil pollution - Excessive cropping causes robbing of nutrients from the soil leading to loss of soil fertility. Also, over time, it can lead to soil erosion and finally to desertification. Excessive use of fertilizers also changes soil chemistry and kills useful organisms.
• Water pollution - Agricultural runoff carries nutrients from fields to water and causes excessive growth of algae. This causes decreases in oxygen content in water leading to the death of many aquatic organisms.
• Lowering of the water table - Excess drainage of groundwater for irrigation purposes has lowered down the water table. This results in acute water shortages at many places.
• Biomagnification - The chemical pesticides are non-biodegradable thus, they accumulate in organisms in increasing amounts at each trophic level.
• Damage to natural ecosystem or habitat - The clearing of forests for agriculture has resulted in the loss of habitat to wildlife. Deforestation has also affected the water cycle and other nutrient recycling.