Agricultural Pollution  
              Developing  means of farming and agriculture is the reason humans live in the world they do  today. It is a necessary means of survival, without which there would be  famines all over the world. For thousands of years, agricultural was a natural  process that did not harm the land it was done on. In fact, farmers were able  to pass down their land for many generations and it would still be fertile as  ever. However, modern agricultural practices have started the process of  agricultural pollution. This process causes the degradation of the eco-system,  land and environment due to the modern day by-products of agriculture. 
               
            No  single cause can be attributed to the widespread agricultural pollution we face  today. Agriculture is a complex activity in which the growth of crops and  livestock have to be balanced perfectly. The process of agricultural pollution  stems from the many stages their growth goes through. 
             
              
                
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              Causes of Agricultural  Pollution 
                1. Pesticides and Fertilizers:  
                To  begin with, the earliest source of the pollution has  been pesticides and fertilizers. Modern day pesticides & fertilizers have  to deal with the local pests that have existed for hundreds of years along with  the new invasive species. And so, they are laden with chemicals that are not  found in nature.Once they has been sprayed, it does not  disappear completely. Some of it mixes with the water and seeps into the  ground. The rest of is absorbed by the plant itself. As a result, the local  streams that are supplied water from the ground become  contaminated, as do the animals that eat these crops and  plants. 
                 
  2. Contaminated Water:  
  Contaminated water used  for irrigation is one further source of pollution. Much of the water we use  comes from ground water reservoirs, canals and through the rains. While plenty  of it is clean and pure water, other sources are polluted with organic  compounds and heavy metals. This happens due to the disposal of industrial and  agricultural waste in local bodies of water.As  a result, the crops are exposed to water which has small amounts of mercury,  arsenic, lead and cadmium dissolved in it. The process of agricultural  pollution becomes harder to fight when such water poisons the livestock and  causes crop failure. 
   
  3. Soil Erosion and Sedimentation: 
   Further  problems are caused by soil erosion and  sedimentation. Soil is comprised of many layers and it is only the topmost  layer that can support farming or grazing. Due to inefficient farming  practices, this soil is left open for erosion and leads to declining fertility  each year. Whether eroded by water or wind, all this soil has to be deposited  somewhere or the other. 
    
                The  resulting sedimentation causes soil build up in areas such as rivers, streams,  ditches and surrounding fields. And so, the process of agricultural pollution  prevents the natural movement of water, aquatic animals and nutrients to other  fertile areas. 
                 
  4. Livestock:  
                In  the olden days, farmers would keep as much livestock as their land could  support. The cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens and other animals were fed natural  diets, which was supplemented by the waste left over from the crops. As a  result, the animals contributed to keeping the farm healthy as well.As  of now, livestock is grown in cramped conditions where it is fed unnatural  diets and sent to slaughterhouses on a regular basis. As a result, they add to  the process of agricultural pollution by way of emissions. 
                 
  5. Pests and Weeds:  
                Growing  exotic crops and reducing the natural species in a certain area has become the  norm for agriculture. However, it is simply adding to the process of  agricultural pollution. With the arrival of new crops, the native population has  to deal with new diseases, pests and weeds that it is not capable of fighting.As a result, the invasive species destroy the  local vegetation and wildlife, altering the eco-system permanently. This is  especially the case with Genetically Modified foods, which create plant and animal species that  can wipe out the existing species in a matter of years. 
              Effects of Agricultural  Pollution 
                1.Health Related Issues: 
   Agricultural  pollution is the main source of pollution in water and lakes. Chemicals from  fertilizers and pesticides make their way into the groundwater that end up in  drinking water. Health related problems may occur as it contribute to blue baby  syndrome which causes death in infants. Oil, degreasing  agents, metals and toxins from farm equipment cause health problems when they  get into drinking water. 
   
  2. Effect on Aquatic Animals:  
                Fertilizers,  manure, waste and ammonia turns into nitrate that reduces the amount of oxygen  present in water which results in the death of many aquatic animals. Again,  bacteria and parasites from animal waste can  get into drinking water which can pose serious health hazards for various  aquatic life and animals.Keeping  agricultural pollution in check is much harder than it seems. For the farms to  become clean once again, levels of water, soil and industrial pollution have  to be kept in check. Over the last decade or so, governments have become  stricter about enforcing regulations. Farmers are also becoming more aware of  the damage and are looking for solutions.Many  farms are moving back to traditional manure, direct irrigation from local water  bodies and organic means of keeping pest populations in check. But for the  process of agricultural pollution to be fully reigned in, there has to be a  complete shift in the way agriculture is practiced. 
                 
                Source:  
               
              http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-effects-of-agricultural-pollution.php#sthash.kvnudnHZ.dpuf 
               
              
                               
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