Environmental Concerns

UNIT I
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
Environmental basis for agriculture and food – Land use and

landscape changes – Water quality issues – Changing social
structure and economic focus – Globalization and its impacts
– Agro ecosystems.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research

https://icar.org.in/
The environmental basis of food and
agricultural systems
• Agriculture uses about a third of the world’s land surface

and depends directly on the wider environment for its
existence and sustainability.
• Sunlight, water, nutrients and a diversity of plants, animals

and microbes all play fundamental roles in agricultural
production and — ultimately — global food security
Biodiversity’s role in agriculture
• As part of the living environment, agricultural biodiversity

plays key roles in: decomposition and nutrient cycling;
natural pest control; soil conservation; pollination and seed
dispersal; local and global climate; the water cycle; and
biomass production.
• Four interconnected pillars for biodiversity in and around agriculture. It starts with optimizing
the functional Agrobiodiversity (pillar 1), supported by landscape diversity (pillar 2) and
corridors and source areas for biodiversity (pillar 4). When desired, measures for maintaining
specific species can be taken (pillar 3).
Interactions between agriculture and
the environment
• Soil quality (sustainability concerns)
• Water quality and quantity (pollution concerns)
• Air quality (pollution concerns)
• Biodiversity (conservation concerns)
• Landscape (amenity concerns)
• Food safety and animal welfare concerns

LAND USE AND LANDSCAPE CHANGES
Water quality issues
• The agricultural sector is by far the biggest user of

freshwater. In Africa and Asia, an estimated 85-90% of all
fresh water used is for agriculture. According to estimates
for the year 2000, agriculture accounted for 67% of the
world's total freshwater withdrawal, and 86% of its
consumption.
• We use the water to irrigate crops and although a large
percentage of the water returns from the fields, often it has
been changed and is carrying soil and dissolved compounds
How land and water are linked
Land and water are linked together through the Hydrologic cycle.

How land and water are linked
• Although the atmosphere may not be a great storehouse of water, it is the

superhighway used to move water around the globe. Liquid water is changed into
water vapour with 90% due to evaporation and 10% due to transpiration.
• This water vapour rises into the atmosphere on warm air currents. Cooler
temperatures high in the atmosphere cause vapour to condense into clouds.
Strong winds move the clouds around the world until the water falls as
precipitation.
• Precipitation that falls on land completes the cycle of fresh water and results in
either runoff or groundwater.
• Since most water that falls on the land eventually makes its way to either a ground
water or a surface water source, anything that happens on the landscape can have
a big impact on the quality of the water.
Agricultural impacts on water quality
• Agricultural activity
Tillage/ploughing
Impacts
Surface water Groundwater
Sediment/turbidity: sediments
Carry phosphorus and pesticides
adsorbed to sediment particles;- ---------------------------------
siltation of river beds and
loss of habitat,etc
Surface water pollution

• Direct surface runoff
• Seepage to ground water that discharges to a surface water

outlet
• Various farming activities - erosion of soil particles Sediment

produced by erosion - damage fish habitat wetlands ,
transports excess agricultural chemicals resulting in
contaminated runoff
• Excess nutrients from nonpoint sources cause eutrophication

Fertilizers
Impacts
Runoff of especially Leaching of nitrate to groundwater;

nutrients,
excessive levels are a threat to public
phosphorus, leading to eutrophication health
causing taste and odour in public water
supply, excess algae growth leading to
deoxygenating of water and fish kills.
Groundwater pollution
.
• Nitrate -most common chemical contaminant
• Mean nitrate levels - risen by an estimated 36% in global

waterways since 1990
• India and Africa - 20-50% of wells in agriculture areas

contain nitrate levels greater than 50 mg/l & in some cases
as high as 100 mg/l
Manure spreading
Impacts
Contamination of groundwater, especially by
Carried out as a fertilizer activity; Results in nitrogen
high levels of contamination of receiving
waters by pathogens, metals, phosphorus
and nitrogen leading to eutrophication and
potential contamination..
Irrigation
Impacts
Enrichment of groundwater with salts,
Runoff of salts leading to salinization of nutrients (especially nitrate).
surface waters; runoff of fertilizers and
pesticides to surface waters with ecological
damage, bioaccumulation in edible fish
species, etc. High levels of trace elements
such as selenium can occur with serious
ecological damage and potential human
health impacts.
Clear cutting
Impacts
Erosion of land, leading to high levels of Disruption of hydrologic regime, often

turbidity in rivers, siltation of bottom with increased surface runoff and
habitat, etc. Disruption and change of decreased groundwater recharge;
hydrologic regime, often with loss of affects surface water by decreasing
perennial streams; causes public health flow in dry periods and concentrating
problems due to loss of potable water. nutrients and contaminants in surface
water.
Globalization and its impacts
• Globalization has had far-reaching effects on our lifestyle.

It has led to faster access to technology, improved
communication, and innovation. Apart from playing an
important role in bringing people of different cultures
together, it has ushered a new era in the economic
prosperity and has opened up vast channels of
development. However, globalization has also created some
areas of concern, and prominent among these is the impact
that it has had on the environment.
Globalization causes rise in pollution level
• The amount of fuel that is consumed in transporting these

products has led to an increase in the pollution levels in the
environment. It has also led to several other environmental
concerns such as noise pollution and landscape intrusion.
Transportation has also put a strain on the non-renewable
sources of energy, such as gasoline.
Depletion of Ozone Layer
• The gases that are emitted from the aircraft have led to the
depletion of the ozone layer apart from increasing the
greenhouse effect. The industrial waste that is generated
as a result of production has been laden on ships and
dumped in oceans. This has killed many underwater
organisms and has deposited many harmful chemicals in
the ocean.
Soil Pollution
• Due to globalization and industrialization, various chemicals

have been thrown into the soil which have resulted into the
growth of many noxious weeds and plants. This toxic waste
has caused a lot of damage to plants by interfering in their
genetic makeup. It has put pressure on the available land
resources.
Encroachment Of Land
• In various parts of the world, mountains are being cut to

make way for a passing tunnel or a highway. Vast barren
lands have been encroached upon to pave way for new
buildings. While humans may rejoice on the glimmer with
these innovations, these can have long-term effects on the
environment.
Plastic is The Major Cause of Pollution
• Various studies over the years, have found that plastic is

one of the major toxic pollutants, as it is a non-
biodegradable product. However, plastic is of immense use
when it comes to packaging and preserving goods that are
to be exported. This has led to increased use of plastic,
causing widespread environmental pollution.

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UNIT I

Environmental basis for agriculture and food – Land use and

Indian Council of Agricultural Research

• Agriculture uses about a third of the world’s land surface

• Sunlight, water, nutrients and a diversity of plants, animals

• As part of the living environment, agricultural biodiversity

• Water quality and quantity (pollution concerns)

• Air quality (pollution concerns)

• Biodiversity (conservation concerns)

• Landscape (amenity concerns)

• Food safety and animal welfare concerns

• The agricultural sector is by far the biggest user of

Land and water are linked together through the Hydrologic cycle.

• Although the atmosphere may not be a great storehouse of water, it is the

either runoff or groundwater.

Surface water pollution

• Seepage to ground water that discharges to a surface water

• Various farming activities - erosion of soil particles Sediment

• Excess nutrients from nonpoint sources cause eutrophication

Runoff of especially Leaching of nitrate to groundwater;

• Mean nitrate levels - risen by an estimated 36% in global

• India and Africa - 20-50% of wells in agriculture areas

Erosion of land, leading to high levels of Disruption of hydrologic regime, often

• Globalization has had far-reaching effects on our lifestyle.

• The amount of fuel that is consumed in transporting these

• Due to globalization and industrialization, various chemicals

• In various parts of the world, mountains are being cut to

• Various studies over the years, have found that plastic is

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