Soil Conservation: How Pollution is affecting soil-life…
March 16th, 2010
The soil that we use is integral to our livelihood. More and more people are beginning to use eco-friendly products and live an environmentally conscious life, however only a few realize that the protection and conservation of soil is equally important. While many people invest valuable time and effort in keeping the air and water clean, widespread awareness of soil conservation is still lacking.
Soil conservation comprises of all the procedures and methods that involve protecting the soil from natural as well as manmade destructions. There are many natural ways in which soil could get eroded or blown away. In the same way, soil could also get contaminated or chemically altered owing to acidification or salinization, or destruction from machinery.
The saying, ‘change is the only constant’ holds true for everything …including nature. Everything in our natural world is in a perpetual state of evolution and change. However, when this change is triggered by unnatural methods, that is when an imbalance occurs in the natural process of the planet and it begins to affect our quality of life.
Changes in the quality of the soil owing to pollution could lead to disastrous results. It is vital for us to conserve the soil that we live in as this is where most of the food products are grown. The quality of food ingredients largely affects our well being and health. Therefore, soil conservation is as important as any other form of conservation that attempts to safeguard the environment and improve the quality of life of all living beings.
It has been found that soil pollution is carcinogen, which means that it is related to causing cancer. Excess of lead in soil can also be harmful for children leading to complicated health problems.
Soil pollution can be a result of misuse or overuse of the soil. It could be factories dumping their waste material in large dumping grounds, acid rains which are a result of industrial fumes mixing with rain, or accumulation of chemicals, radioactive materials, contaminants, toxic waste matter and others. The most common types of pollutants found in soil are dioxins, PCBs, tars, oils, herbicides, pesticides, heavy metals such as zinc, mercury, and lead, and hydrocarbons.
Soil pollution can be broadly divided into three main types:
· Agricultural soil pollution
· Soil pollution owing to industrial wastes
· Soil pollution as a result of urban lifestyle
Agricultural soil pollution comprises of contamination of surface soil as well as underground soil. This type of soil pollution is a result of agricultural procedures that require heavy usage of pesticides, fertilizers, irrigation, and others. Such agricultural pollutants adversely affect the quality of the soil that leads to complications such as excess salinity in the soil. Owing to excess levels of salinity in the soil, the growth of healthy crops is badly affected. An overdose of fertilizers and pesticides can upset the natural rhythm of the soil, resulting in soil that is alarmingly low on productivity.
Agricultural soil pollution can be prevented in many effective ways. One of the most important prevention methods is to cut down on the usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Many farmers are opting for organic methods of pest control that are gentle on the soil. Other methods of preventing agricultural soil pollution include protection of areas that are sensitive, effective use of nutrients, improvement in livestock waste management, integrated pest management, and economical use of energy and water.
Industries are largely responsible for the growing amount of pollutants in the soil. Several industries dump their unwanted waste in soil. These waste products include harmful substances such as plastic materials, bottles, broken pieces of metal, radioactive wastes, magnesium sulphate, chemicals, powders, and a lot more. These waste products adversely affect the intrinsic nature of soil and bring about an imbalance. Studies conducted on soil pollution state that soil polluted by heavy metals may be life threatening for humans if we don’t check the spread of heavy metals to the food chain.
The harmful effects of industrial waste on the quality of soil need to be checked to ensure general good health and well-being. Industries can adapt an eco-friendly approach to recycle their waste products and help in the process of soil conservation. Those industries that are unable to recycle their effluents are advised to dump their waste materials in a environmentally conscious manner, keeping in mind not to dump harmful substances directly into the soil.
Soil pollution can also be a result of urban lifestyle. Without our knowing, we could be living in urban areas and contributing to soil pollution through the enormous waste that we accumulate. Urban households generate waste products that include plastic products, food wastes, sweepings, glass items, and a whole lot more. One critical cause of soil pollution in cities is the use of plastic bags. Many cities have initiated movements to ban the usage of plastic bags and other items that contribute to soil pollution. Residents of urban areas are also encouraged to dump their garbage in an eco-friendly manner.
