Question 38: Explain some harmful effects of agricultural practices on the environment.
Answer:
Some harmful effects of agricultural practices are as follows:
1. Run off from the field sprayed with the nitrates of the fertilizers when dissolved in ground water or the soil it produces harmful effects or can kill many useful microbes, this will lead to eutrophication.
2. When the fertilizers are added to the agricultural field, a part of the fertilizer goes down into the soil and to the ground water, then this will lead to the increase in the salt content of ground water.
3. Pesticides are non- biodegradable and when the large number of pesticides sprayed over the crops reaches the river or the water bodies and kills the biota. When the concentration of the toxic material increases at each trophic level of the food chain is known as biomagnifications.
4. Excessive use of the ground water lowers the ground water level.
5. Cutting down of the trees (deforestation) for agriculture results in the loss of habitat and niches for the animals and it will cause damage to the natural environment.
6. Loss of soil productivity by erosion of the top soil results in the formation of deserts, known as desertification.
Add Comment