Question

Discuss the types of runoff pollution generated by agriculture and cities and the policies available to abate them in great detail.

Answer 1

SOLUTION

AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION OR RUNOFF POLLUTION

Agriculture pollution refers to biotic and abiotic byproducts of farming practices that result in contamination or degradation of the environment and surronding eco- systems, and / or cause injury to humans and their economic interests. The pollution may come from a variety of sources, ranging from point source water pollution ( From a single discharge point ) to more diffuse, landscape - level causes, also known as non- profit source pollution. Management practices play a crucial role in the amonnt and impact of these pollutants. Management techniques range from animal management and housing to the spread of pesticides and fertilizers in global agricultural products.

ABIOTIC SOURCES

a) PESTICIDES

Pesticides and herbicides are applied to the agricultural land to control the pests and distrupt crop production. Soil contamination can occur when pesticides persist and accumulate in soils, which can alter microbioligical processes, increase plant uptake of the chemical and are toxic to soil organisms. The extend to which the pesticides and herbicides persists depends on the compounds unique chemistry, which affects sorption dynamics and resulting fate and transport in the soil environment.

b)FERTILIZERS

Fertilizers are used to provide crops with addoitional sources of nutrients such as Nitrogen, Phosporous, and Potassium, that promote plant growth and increase crop yields. Nitrogen that are biiologically available for plant uptake namely NO3 (nitrate ) and NH4+ (ammonium ). Only a fraction is taken up by crops, and the remaining accumulates in the soil or is lost as runoff.

BIOTIC SOURCES

GENETICALLY MODIFIED SOURCES

GMO crops can, however, result in genetic contamination of native plant species through hibridation. This could lead to the increased weediness of the plant or the extinction of the native species. In addition, the transgenic plant itself may become a weed if the modification improves its fitness in a given environment. There are also concerns that non - target organisms, such as pollinators and natural enemies, could be poisoned by accidental injection of Bt- producing plants.

BIOPESTICIDES

Biopesticides are pesticides derived from natural materials ( animals, plats, micro- organisms and certain minerals ). As an alternative to the natural pesticides, bio- pesticides can reduce overall agricultural pollution because they are safe to handle, usually do not affect benefitial invertibrates or vertebrates and have short residual time.

POLICIES TO ABATE

1. DONT DUMP ANYTHNING DOWN THE STORMDRAINS

Storm drains are from storm water. Not mop water, Not your used motor oil. Not your car washing rinse water. This water does not get any sort of cleaning treatment before it makes it way into rivers, so help ensure only water from the sky ends in our storm drains.

2. USE PESTICIDES AND FERTILIZERS SPARINGLY

Country wide, we have major problems with too much fertilizer and pesticide ending our water. Make sure your lawn and out of the gutter.Better yet replant your area with native plants that dont need chemicals to look good. Stay away from raid for ants, and use a less toxic borox solution instead.

3. PICK UP YOUR DOG POOP

Dog poop is a gross and has lots of facel bacteria in it. Just as I dont want to step in it, I dont want it running into the river.