Chapter 14 – Biology Homework Discussion

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Chapter 14 – Biology Homework DiscussionMechanized agriculture has negative impacts on the environment such as soil loss, effects of fertilizer on aquatic ecosystems and bioaccumulation of pesticides. The vast tracts of bare land contribute to an increase in soil erosion by wind and water, and this has the consequence of soil loss in the region being transferred to another location. Lack of crop rotation leads to the depletion of nutrients in the soil, and this is only replaced through the application of fertilizers to reinforce the nutrients. Due to this, the use of fertilizers is increased and the soil become reach in inorganic chemicals and metals. In the event of rain, the nutrients leach through the soil finding their way to the water sources poisoning the aquatic life such as fish leading to their death. The increased use of pesticides on plants accumulates in the storage regions of the crops to which are consumed by humans, and this leads to the production of crops that are full of pesticides. Fossil fuel increases the rate of carbon emission, and this has the main effect of increasing greenhouse gases that lead to global warming. In a field where genetically identical seeds are planted, genetic diversity is lost, and plants of one kind can be found in the fields.

According to the cause of the problems, soil loss can be prevented through ensuring that there is enough vegetation cover such as grass to prevent soil erosion by wind and water. Sparingly use of fertilizers, and the replacement of fertilizers with organic fertilizers reduce the effect of fertilizers on the aquatic life and thus save the marine ecosystem. To prevent bioaccumulation of pesticides in the plants, more genetic differentiation is needed as well as the use of predators to prey on some pests. Fossil energy increases carbon emission into the atmosphere and thus need to be replaced with other energy sources such as electricity and the use of human resource to work on the fields to reduce carbon emission.