Question

Explain some harmful effects of agricultural practices on the environment.

Answer 1

With the initiation of green revolution to increase the agricultural yield, the use of inorganic fertilizer and pesticides has increased for the enhancement in the crop production.

Complete answer: Environment has a direct connection with agriculture for existence and sustainability. But also, there are many harmful effects of agricultural practices on the environment:

1. Excessive use of fertilizers: Due to the large use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides for example: fungicides, insecticide, herbicide although these inorganic fertilizers may have increase the crop production manifold but they are also responsible for soil degradation as they serve as toxic agents to the non-target components that are very much important for the soil ecosystem.
2. Deforestation: To increase the agricultural land large amounts of trees are cut every day. The roots of those trees which are tightly bound to the soil become loose and the quality of soil degrades. Deforestation also causes loss of biodiversity, soil erosion.
3. Climate change: Sometimes due to the change in climatic conditions it is not favorable for the farmers to do farming on the field or sometimes crops get damaged due to heavy rainfall, storm, hailstorm etc.
4. Excessive use of water: Because of the over-exploitation of the groundwater, a large decrease in the groundwater table has been observed and it also increases the salt content in the water which is not good for agricultural practices.

Note: Green Revolution is the largest revolution happened in the sector of agriculture till now to strengthen the agricultural economy of the country and to contribute to the GDP of India, increase the crop production have played a major role.