500+ Words Essay on Soil Pollution
Soil is a combination of organic matter, minerals, chemicals, liquids and organisms that sustain life together. Soil pollution is the presence of toxic components in the soil that affect the soil and the environment at large. It is usually caused by industrial production, agricultural products, or unsuitable waste disposal. Due to its impact on plant life, the problem of soil contamination typically comes to light. Soil pollution prevents plants from growing as expected.
In the present scenario, soil pollution is the main factor affecting our climate. Soil pollution can arise from the use of pesticides, non-biodegradable materials, manufacturing effluents, and artificial fertilizers. Soil pollution contributes to other forms of contamination if, for example, soil pollutants are transferred to water or air. Agriculture is highly soil-dependent, and its pollution harms agricultural activities.
The soil is the gift of nature that we work on, walk around, find the food source, produce food, etc. However, something done inappropriately is becoming biologically toxic. Carefree use of soil has caused an increased rate of soil pollution which will inevitably make the soil unusable and unrecyclable.
Types of Soil Pollution
The soil contains two types of pollutants, namely natural pollutants and added pollutants due to human activities. Natural pollutants include organic compounds and inorganic particles that are the result of human activities such as animal and plant decay. Such pollutants are not a cause of concern though, and in fact, they replenish their nutrient soil.
The other group of pollutants are human-made. Human-made pollutants include toxic chemical waste, oil and fuel disposal, radioactive waste, landfills and unregulated disposal, coal ash and other such waste that originates from human activity and is dumped into the soil without treatment.
Causes of Soil Pollution
Industrial Pollution – Excessive discarding of industrial chemical waste contributes to pollution of the soil. The disposal of heavy metals, oil and gasoline pollution, industrial waste, accumulation of acids and hazardous chemicals contribute to soil pollution.
Use of Inorganic Manures – Heavy use of inorganic nitrogen manures within the agricultural method is often related to soil pollution, in part through the nitrification process.
Poor Irrigation Practice – The principal cause of soil pollution is improper irrigation technique. When you over water the ground, this results in an increased level of the water table, which results in higher capillary action.
Similarly, poor maintenance of irrigation waterways and channels can lead to water leakage within the adjacent agricultural land. Also, the lack of crop rotation and intensive farming may have a detrimental impact on the consistency of the soil after some time.
Urban Activities – It includes improper waste disposal and building construction which leads to soil pollution by inhibiting proper water drainage. Animal waste and human sewage may pollute the soil by altering its chemical composition.
Effects of Soil Pollution
Soil pollution is a global concern and is not just limited to India. Soil pollution has had a significant effect on crop quality as the crop roots are unable to absorb enough nutrients from the soil due to pollutants present. For certain parts of the world, this has made the soil less fertile, and efforts are on to replenish the soil of its nutrients.
Another significant effect on human health from soil pollution is the emergence of multiple diseases due to our interaction with the soil pollutants. For example, areas where soil pollution is high, along with skin infection and even skin cancer, there has been an increase in respiratory problems, particularly in children.
Soil pollution also contributes to higher rates of water pollution. It is because the pollutants of the soil near the rivers or other bodies of water allow the pollutants to be mixed with the flowing water of the rives and thereby pollute it. Soil pollution impacts the environment as a whole, as it also impacts certain species survival.
Preventative Measures for Soil Pollution
Since polluted soil is not safe to use, we need to find ways to prevent soil pollution from affecting our everyday lives. The toxicity of the industrial waste must be before it is disposed of in the soil.
Farmers need to make sure they use bio-fertilizers rather than chemical fertilizers. The farmers must also opt for bio-pesticides and bio-fungicides. It can take a long time to respond, but it is suitable for both the crops and the soil. Planting more trees can help to avoid soil erosion.
Exploring pesticide replacements and organic fertilizers is an excellent solution to preventing soil emissions. Also, mixed and rotational farming should be encouraged more to avoid soil pollution.
Recycling the waste material, rather than storing it inside the landfill, would also eliminate soil pollution. Nobody will throw the electrical products and batteries into home dustbins to keep the soil clear of dangerous substances.
Role of Government in the Prevention of Soil Pollution
Regulation of soil pollution should be of great concern to all. The Government of India has initiated some efforts to educate people on the importance of cleanliness which is key to reducing soil pollution in its own words. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is one of those missions by which the government has educated people not to pollute the soil by throwing solid waste and keeping the world clean for a safe life for all.
Conclusion
Soil pollution is often caused by human activity that is not necessary. Many people today quickly discard the hazardous waste and often use hazardous agricultural chemicals (such as fertilizers or pesticides) that soak very quickly inside the soil. This not only pollutes the environment but also affects biodiversity.
Conserving our environment is critical, and preventing soil pollution would give us a safer and cleaner world. If we want to make our future generation happy and safe, then we should take some remedial measures to stop the soil pollution from today. It is not helpful to humans, but it is not beneficial to the life of a magnificent animal and plant organisms on earth.
It is not the government’s sole responsibility to undertake measures to reduce soil pollution. Each one of us in this project will do our bit to help the government. For starters, we need to make sure we throw garbage at the designated places and not on the roads.
Likewise, factories will ensure that their waste is properly disposed of according to country laws. Another measure which can help to minimize soil pollution is the increased use of renewable energy sources such as solar energy. We have to make sure we have more plants and trees around us, and we will supply them with water and manure regularly.
Binding the soil to the trees is very necessary and thus prevents soil erosion. Last but not least, the best way to minimize soil pollution is to educate people about the ill effects of soil pollution and inspire them to change their habits for the betterment of the environment and our country as well.
Leave a Reply