Environmental Studies - Soil Pollution

Soil pollution refers to an undesirable decrease in the quality of soil, either by man-induced sources or natural sources or by both.

Soil is vital not only for the growth of plants and growing food but also cultivating raw materials for agro-based industries. Health soil is a significant prerequisite for human survival.

Causes of Soil Erosion

• Deforestation at large scale
• Over-grazing
• Mining
• Decrease in soil microorganisms
• Excessive use of chemical fertilizers
• Excessive use of irrigation
• Lack of humus content
• Improper and unscientific rotation of crops

Soil pollution leads to many harmful consequences such as decrease in agricultural production; reduced nitrogen fixation; reduction in biodiversity; silting of tanks, lakes and reservoirs; diseases and deaths of consumers in the food chain due to use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, etc.

Soil Pollution Control

• Adoption of soil-friendly agricultural practices.

• Use of compost manures in place of chemical fertilizers; Use of bio-fertilizers and natural pesticides help in minimizing the usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides

• Scientific rotation of crop to increase soil fertility.

• Proper disposal of industrial and urban solid and liquid wastes.

• Planting of trees to check soil erosion in slopes and mountainous regions.

• Controlled grazing.

• Reduction in the heaps of garbage and refuse.

• The principles of three R’s − Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce − help in minimizing generation of solid waste.

• Formulation and effective implementation of stringent pollution control legislation.

• Improved sewage and sanitation system in urban areas.