6) What is the role of modem agriculture in
environmental degradation?
Answers
Answer:
Environmental Impacts Of Agriculture
Climate Change
Agriculture and climate change have a reciprocal relationship. Climate change affects agricultural production through precipitation levels and temperature variations. In return, poor agricultural practices increase climate change. The most significant climate change associated with agriculture is brought about by methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide, all of which are greenhouse gases released into the Earth’s atmosphere from farming. Pesticides and fertilizers application affect the quality of air through production of compounds like phosphorus, nitrate and ammonia.
Pollution
In order to enhance agricultural production quantity and quality, several additives to the soil are used in farming. The widely used are pesticides and fertilizers, which end up as pollutants in water run-off from the soil. This run-off can adversely affect more people and animal wildlife.
Soil Degradation
In all ecosystems, the biodiversity held in soil is massive. Healthy soils are vital to creating ample food production. Although agriculture is not the sole cause of soil degradation, poor farming practices are known to cause a considerable decline in in the quality of soil. This mainly results from pesticide contamination, waterlogging and salting. Soil erosion leads to loss of soil fertility and structure