Transcript Presentation

Engineering and Environmental Geology
Environmental effects of
agriculture
10.
The agriculture id the oldest activity in the history of mankind. It meant the
beginning of the transforlation the original, natural environment.
During the last centuries agriculture went through a very rapid, intensive
change. As the result of the development of implements and technologies
people managed to enlarge the cultivated areas. The gradual formation of
monocultural farming induced irreversibile changes regarding the quality of
the soil and the ground water.
1. Environmental effects of modern agriculture
1) Conventional agriculture. Reduction and, especially, elimination of
agrochemical require major changes in management to assure adequate plant
nutrients and to control crop pests.
Processes of conventional agriculture (KERÉNYI 2003)
2) Modern agriculture. The specialization of production units has led to the image
that agriculture is a modern miracle of food production.
Processes of modern agriculture (KERÉNYI 2003)
Organic fertilizer
Syntetic fertilizer (www.balkonkertesz.hu)
2. Effects of agriculture to soil (groundwater)
2.1. Soil degradation
Water erosion
1. Surface erosion
2. Rill erosion
3. Stream channel erosion
Rill erosion (www.enfo.agt.bme.hu)
Wind erosion
Traces of wind erosion (www.enfo.agt.bme.hu)
2. Secondary salinization
Secondary salinization at the Great Hungarian Plate (forrás:
www.szikesviz.hu)
3. Effects of agriculture to the ecosystem of soil
1. Land transformation and degradation
Szántással javított talajszerkezet (www.static.fotoalbum.hu)
2. Eutrophication
Eutrophization of a dead channel of the Danube (www.rdhsz.hu)
3. Irrigation
Motorized irrigation (www.idokep.hu)
4. Pesticides
Pesticides are organic and inorganic chemicals originally invented and first used
effectively to better the human environment by controlling undesirable life forms
such as bacteria, pests, and foraging insects. Their effectiveness, however, has
caused considerable pollution.
5. Herbicides and insecticides
Herbicides are used to kill weeds, especially on pavements and railways. They are
similar to auxins and most are biodegrale by soil bacteria.
6. Monocultures
Monocultural agriculture (www.think.transindex.ro)
Crop rotation (www.petrs.network.hu)
Thank you for your attention!