Question

23. The fertilizers and the pesticides that are being used by the farmers are affecting the proces decomposition badly. Justify your answer.​

Answer 1

Answer:

Agricultural inputs broadly refer to the materials used or added in the process of agricultural production and include biological inputs, chemical inputs, and agricultural facilities and equipment. In particular, agricultural chemical inputs denote the different types of chemical applications in agricultural production, such as pesticides (including natural and biological pesticides), chemical fertilizers, veterinary drugs and feed additives, among others.

Agricultural management practices—for example, an increased use of agricultural chemicals or fertilizers—are often evaluated based on their benefits for economic efficiencies in production (e.g. reduction in total production costs and increased production yield) while less attention is generally given to their potential environmental effects [1]. For example, pesticide and fertilizer application plays a vital role in increasing agricultural production and ensuring the supply of agricultural products. Pesticide spraying can significantly reduce or offset the economic costs from plant diseases, insect pests, and weeds on agricultural production and fertilizer application can provide a variety of nutrients required for the growth of crops and for an increased yield in production. However, many countries have reported alarming residues of agricultural chemicals in soil, water, air, agricultural products, and even in human blood and adipose tissue [2, 3].

Research suggests that the massive use of inorganic fertilizers world-wide is associated with the accumulation of contaminants, e.g. arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), fluorine (F), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) in agricultural soils [1]. In the USA, according to a survey of 51 major river basins and aquifer systems by the US Geological Survey, pesticides were detected 97% of the time in samples from stream water in agricultural areas [4]. In Japan, pesticides were frequently detected in the air of residential environments and childcare facilities following the application of pesticides—this is consistent with the findings that outside pesticide applications are major contributors to indoor air pollution in agricultural communities [5].