The effects of using chemicals on farmland vary considerably according to how much of which chemicals are used. There is also disagreement among experts as to the short and long-term effects of chemical usage. Herbicides used to control weeds can drift on the wind from the plot where they are being applied and effect other plants - such as landscape plants - unintentionally. The "inert" ingredients in some herbicides have been shown to have more toxicity to animals than the "active" ones. Toxicity in this case is measured by what dosage of the chemical is strong enough to kill 50% of the population being tested. Pesticides used against insects and mites can kill beneficial insects (insects that eat pest insects), like lady bugs, aphid lions, and green lacewings. When the beneficial insects are gone, there is no control over the pest insects, so their populations can increase much more quickly after the initial application, requiring further applications to control the original pest. Pesticides can also kill butterflies, moths, Spiders and bees, which play other roles in the environment, such as pollinating plants. Pesticides can persist in the insects' bodies, and effect birds or other insectivores which eat the poisoned insects. Other chemicals, such as fertilizers can disrupt the chemistry of the soil, leading to deficiencies of certain microorganisms which play a role in making nutrients in the soil available to plants. Chemical fertilizers also can lead to soil salinization (the soil becomes salty), which requires large amounts of water to leach the salt out of the soil, which in turn can intensify water shortages. Agricultural chemicals can also significantly increase crop yeilds in the short term by limiting damage by pests, competition for water and nutrients from weeds and by providing large amounts of nutrients in a form that is easily available to plants. In the long term these processes can lead to serious depletion of soils because the natural process of converting organic matter to tilth and the balance of microorganisms in the soils has been disrupted.
Non organic foods are grown using synthtic pesticides and fertilizers that can harm the enviroment.
Fertilizers can improve soil fertility by providing essential nutrients for plant growth, while pesticides can help control pests that can harm crops. Both fertilizers and pesticides need to be applied carefully in order to minimize negative impacts on soil health and the environment. Proper management practices, such as using integrated pest management and precision agriculture techniques, can help optimize the benefits of fertilizers and pesticides while reducing their potential negative effects on soil.
The excessive use of fertilizers can lead to nutrient imbalances in the soil, causing harm to soil microorganisms and disrupting the natural ecosystem. Pesticides can kill beneficial soil organisms, decrease soil biodiversity, and contaminate soil and groundwater, posing risks to human health and the environment.
Stop the use of pesticides because it is not good for the environment. But don't stop using fertilizers because they are good for the environment or at least some of them are!
Yes by washing off into the ocean
The use of fertilizers and pesticides can be harmful to the environment, and to the farmer or gardener using them. Usually, there are not enough toxins in the substance used to harm the consumer of a crop.When it rains, fertilizers will be carries through streams and eventually into rivers. Fertilizers can causse an over-growth of alage and cause eutrophication. Fertilizers also can increase the health of certain pests, such as insects or mice.Human exposure to pesticides can cause...increased risk of leukemiacancers (lung, brain, testicular, lymphoma)increase in spontaneous abortionsgreater genetic damagedecreased fertilityliver and pancreatic damageneuropathydisturbances to immune systems (asthma/ allergies)increases in stillbirthsdecreased sperm counts
Man-made fertilizers and pesticides can enhance crop yields and protect plants from pests, but they also have negative environmental consequences such as pollution, soil degradation, and harm to non-target organisms. It is important to use these chemicals judiciously and consider alternative, more sustainable agricultural practices to minimize their negative impacts on the environment.
Fertilizers can be toxic and harmful to the environment if used improperly or in excess. They can lead to water pollution, soil degradation, and harm to wildlife. Proper use and management of fertilizers are important to minimize their negative impact on the environment.
Agriculture can harm the environment through deforestation, use of pesticides and fertilizers that contribute to water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions from livestock. However, sustainable agricultural practices such as crop rotation, agroforestry, and organic farming can help minimize these negative impacts and promote environmental conservation.
native plants had most requirements of fertilizers and pesticides.
Organic foods are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. The soil is built up with organic matter like comost, so organic growing does not harm the environment.
how might pesticides and fertilizers on land become a problem in an ocean ecosystem