Effects of Agricultural Activities on Ecological System

Hi, welcome to this blog on the effects of agricultural activities on ecological system.

Table Of Contents

1. Bush burning and effects
2. Overgrazing and effects
3. Fertilizer application and effects
4. Application of pesticides
5. Tillage and effects
6. Deforestation and effects
7. Bush clearing and effects

Effects of Agricultural activities: The following agricultural or farming practices carried out by farmers have some effect or consequences on the ecology system. This agricultural practices and their effect include the following:

BUSH BURNING: Bush burning involves the setting of fire on the bush to clear out the vegetation.

Effects of Agricultural activities Of Bush burning

1. Burning of bush destroys the organic matter in the soil.
2. The atmosphere is polluted with smoke.
3. Many of the microorganisms are killed.
4. Bush burning brings about the growth and appearance of different set of plans, i.e, it brings about succession.
5. It exposes the soil to erosion and leaching.
6. It releases mineral like potassium and phosphorus to the soil in form of Ash.
7. It renews the growth of dried up grasses i.e, it encourages sprouting.
8. The natural food chain is disrupted.
9. The Ash produced by Bush burning gives the soil a slightly alkaline nature.
10. It helps to break dormancy of some seeds.
11. It also reduces the water holding capacity of the soil.
12. Bush burning leads to the Extinction of some animals.

OVERGRAZING: Overgrazing is a situation where more animals than can be supported on a particular pasture are put there to graze. In other words, overgrazing is a way of exceeding the carrying capacity of the soil.

Effects of Agricultural Activities on Overgrazing

1. It exposes the soil to erosion.
2. Overgrazing remove the vegetative cover of the soil.
3. It destroy soil structure.
4. It can export the salt to hit which dries out quickly.
5. More faeces are drop which could improve the fertility of the soil.
6. Weeds can easily be eradicated from such lands
7. Overgrazing causes poor growth and regenerative capacity of vegetation.
8. Overgrazing leads to compactness of the soil resulting from continuous trampling by animals hoofs.
9. Overgrazing also can destroyed the soil structure.

FERTILIZER APPLICATION: Fertilizer application involves the application of certain chemicals or substances into the soil to improve its fertility.

Effects Of Agricultural Activities On Fertilizer Application

1. Fertilizer increases the porosity of the soil.
2. It deteriorates the structure of the soil.
3. Fertilizer application brings about loss of organic matter or humus.
4. The productive capacity of the soil is enhanced by the application of fertilizer.
5. It supplement nutrient content of the soil.
6. It stimulates vegetative growth, hence it reduces soil erosion.
7. Excessive application of fertilizer can cause soil acidity.
8. It can affect the life of plants and animals.
9. Fertilizer increases the population of micro-organisms in the soil. Read the uses of fertilizer in agriculture

APPLICATION OF PESTICIDES AND HERBICIDES

Pesticides are chemical substances which are used to destroy or kill pests while herbicides are also chemical substances in form of solution or gases capable of destroying the herbaceous plants.

Effects Of Agricultural Activities On Pesticides Application

• Pesticide application can cause pollution of the environment.
• It affect or destroy others useful plant and Animals
• Pesticides may have undesirable residue in the environment
• It reduces the population of the target insects or plants.
• Excessive use of pesticides may destroy the crop plants.
• when such chemicals are washed into Rivers or lakes, they can cause the death of aquatic animals.

TILLAGE: Tillage is defined as a working, digging or breaking up of the soil in preparation for the planting of crops.

Effects Of Tillage

• Tillage encourages leaching.
• It helps to loosen the soil.
• It exposes the soil to erosion.
• It can also lead to poor vegetation.
• tillage also enhances the proper erection of soil.
• Ttillage leads to changes in ecology of the Land.
• It enhances the structure and texture of the soil.
• It increases the porosity of the soil or it reduces the capability /water retention capacity of the soil.
• Intensive tillage can lead to loss of soil fertility.
• Tillage exposes soil organisms and may kill Some.

DEFORESTATION: Deforestation is the continuous removal of forest stands (trees) either by Bush burning or indiscriminate felling without replacing them.

Effects of Deforestation

• Deforestation encourages soil erosion.
• It reduces water circulation due to absence of humus and dead leaves on soil surface.
• It reduces the humus content of the soil.
• Deforestation results in loss of soil nutrients through leaching and erosion.
• Deforestation hinders microorganisms activities in the soil.
• It reduces the amount of rainfall in the area or it causes the destruction of watershed.
• It also reduces wildlife population in the area concern.
• Deforestation may lead to desertification as sand particles are more likely to be drop in areas without trees.

CLEAN OR BUSH CLEARING: Clean clearing is the practice whereby the whole vegetation is cleared and removed, thus leaving the land clean.

Before you read the effects of bush clearing, Here is an article on types of farming practices

EFFECTS OF BUSH CLEARING

• Bush clearing results in disturbance or removal of the rich top Soil.
• It exposes the sort of direct sunshine, hence it affect evaporation of water.
• Bush clearing leads to reduction of soil organisms.
• Bush clearing increases the temperature of the Soil.
• It get rid of weeds on the land.
• It exposes the soil to erosion and increases leaching.
• It may leave the land free of all obstacles.
• It leads to reduction of organic matter content of the soil.

Revision Questions

1. What are the effects of agricultural activities on ecological system?
2. What are the effects of bush burning on Agricultural activities?
3. How does overgrazing affects Agricultural activities?
4. State five effects of bush clearing on Agricultural activities.