Causes of Soil Pollution
Sources of Soil Pollution
Industrial Waste
Industrial complexes discard millions of tons of solid wastes every year. The major sources of industrial pollutants are from pulp and paper mills, oil refineries, smelters, various chemical, power, and heating plants. Almost all the industrial furnaces generate ‘fly ash’ which is added to the soil. Surface mining and strip mining removes topsoil and even sub- soil. Some times uncontrolled mine fires permanently destroy the productivity of the specific area.
Fertilizers
Modern agriculture demands the use of a variety of chemicals in pursuit of high productivity. The fertilizers are used to increase the yield of crops. Other much-used chemicals include herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides.
Domestic Solid Waste Pollution
The solid waste from house-hold garbage with old scraps, old newspapers, discarded papers, wooden furniture, lawn trimming, glass cans, old or broken appliances, tyres, plastic, etc. destroy the natural beauty of the landscape.
Indirect Result of Air Pollution
The acid rains are the result of air pollution, which in turn causes soil pollution. Acid rains, pesticides, and other biocides are serious as they kill the essential soil micro-organisms and include toxicity in the soil for plant growth.
Prevention of Soil Pollution
- Judicious use of fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.
- An efficient system of disposal of domestic wastes.
- Recovery and Recycling of wastes.
- Restoring forests and grassland covers that check soil erosion, flood, and waterlogging.
- Crop-Rotation mixed cropping also helps in improving the fertility of the soil.
