Pollution: agricultural operations
Published: November 23, 2009, 4:49 pm
Updated: November 23, 2009, 4:49 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
Sidney Draggan Ph.D.
Nonpoint Source Pollution
Pollution: Agricultural Operations
Agricultural runoff accounts for a significant amount of nonpoint source pollution. (Source: NOAA)
Agricultural operations account for a large percentage of nonpoint source pollution in the United States[1]. According to the Census of Agriculture, approximately 940 million acres of farmland existed in the United States in 2002[2]. While the vast breadth of this land provides space for farming – an industry that provides the backbone of the U.S. economy, not to mention much of the food we eat – it also creates numerous opportunities for nonpoint source pollution.
In agriculture, large tracts of land are typically plowed to grow crops. Plowing the land exposes and disturbs the soil, making it more vulnerable to erosion during rainstorms. This increases the runoff that carries fertilizers and pesticides away from the farm and into nearby waters.
References
- ^U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2004. Nonpoint Source Pollution: The Nation's Largest Water Quality Problem.
- ^U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2004. 2002 Census of Agriculture.
- NOAA National Ocean Service Education—Nonpoint Source Pollution : Agricultural Operations
Further Reading
Are you absolutely sure you want to delete this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Yes, Delete This Article
Are you absolutely sure you want to remove this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Yes, Remove This Article
Citation
NOAA (Content Source);Sidney Draggan Ph.D. (Topic Editor) "Pollution: agricultural operations". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth November 23, 2009; Last revised Date November 23, 2009; Retrieved May 19, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Pollution:_agricultural_operations>
Nonpoint Source Pollution
Pollution: Agricultural Operations
Agricultural runoff accounts for a significant amount of nonpoint source pollution. (Source: NOAA)
Agricultural operations account for a large percentage of nonpoint source pollution in the United States[1]. According to the Census of Agriculture, approximately 940 million acres of farmland existed in the United States in 2002[2]. While the vast breadth of this land provides space for farming – an industry that provides the backbone of the U.S. economy, not to mention much of the food we eat – it also creates numerous opportunities for nonpoint source pollution.
In agriculture, large tracts of land are typically plowed to grow crops. Plowing the land exposes and disturbs the soil, making it more vulnerable to erosion during rainstorms. This increases the runoff that carries fertilizers and pesticides away from the farm and into nearby waters.
References
- ^U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2004. Nonpoint Source Pollution: The Nation's Largest Water Quality Problem.
- ^U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2004. 2002 Census of Agriculture.
- NOAA National Ocean Service Education—Nonpoint Source Pollution : Agricultural Operations
Further Reading
Are you absolutely sure you want to delete this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Yes, Delete This Article
Are you absolutely sure you want to remove this article? This process cannot be undone and is permanent.
Yes, Remove This Article
Site Options
0 Comments
Add Comment