Knowra Agricultural pollution Agricultural pollution Agricultural pollution is contamination of air, water, or soil caused by farming, including fertilizer and pesticide use, livestock waste, and soil erosion.
Nutrient pollution : Excess nitrogen or phosphorus in the environment, often causing harmful ecological change. Runoff and leaching from fertilized fields deliver excess nutrients to waterways.
Dead zone (ecology) : An area of water with oxygen levels too low to support most marine life. Nutrient pollution from farms contributes to hypoxia in coastal waters.
Integrated pest management : A pest-control strategy combining monitoring, prevention, and targeted methods to limit pesticide use. It reduces reliance on routine pesticide applications that can contaminate air, water, and soil.
Agricultural greenhouse gas emissions : Greenhouse gases released by farming, including methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide. Fertilizers, manure, and livestock make agriculture a source of climate pollution.
Best management practice : A recommended practice intended to reduce environmental harm from land use or production. Its effectiveness depends on local soils, weather, farming systems, and implementation.
Eutrophication : The enrichment of water with nutrients, often causing algal growth and oxygen depletion. Fertilizer nutrients can trigger algal blooms and depleted oxygen in receiving waters.
Harmful algal bloom : A rapid growth of algae or cyanobacteria that can harm people, animals, or ecosystems. Nutrient runoff can fuel blooms that release toxins or disrupt water supplies.
Cover crop : A crop grown primarily to protect and improve soil rather than for harvest. Cover crops reduce erosion and can capture nutrients that would otherwise escape fields.
Nitrous oxide : A potent greenhouse gas produced naturally and by human activities, including soil nitrogen processes. Nitrogen fertilizer and manure can increase emissions of this long-lived gas.
Nutrient trading : A market-based system that allows regulated sources to trade nutrient pollution reductions or allowances. Debates concern whether farm reductions can be measured and verified reliably.
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