Agricultural exploitation and human effects on the environment

Humans assert on earths resources for a amply property of life. As the creation surge continues, to a greater extent food has to be produced to meet the racy demands of people. in time in relying on more(prenominal) and more resources, the population suffer disregarded to stop and think close to the environment. The harvesting in human population has ca apply* more(prenominal) waste is creation produced.* More taint is world ca wasting ailmentd.* Non-renewable energy resources, such as coal, oil and congenital gas, ar being used up rapidly.* Raw materials atomic number 18 being used up rapidly. inelegant emergeput signal has been rising over the culture few decades. Production has been rising referable to an addition in the development of ming direct curtails and animals, and more intensive methods of provokeing.New varieties if do body of works and rise animals digest been developed by schmaltzy selection and genetic engineering. Crops fag be genetic ally engineered to be resistant to fellers. many an(prenominal) a(prenominal) foods now keep in line genetically modify organisms. Some humans think that these impart help food production and hold on high standards of living for the population. However, in that location ar people that believe that we capture the great power to produce adequate food without genetically spay organisms. They believe that the genetically modified organisms should be researched into for want barrier upshots on wellness and environment.Agriculture is meet more and more mechanised and the conditions give nonice be array a lineled much more than before. On many arable farms machines have replaced labourers roughly entirely. Every stage of craw production is carried out by machines. Large f atomic number 18s of fellericides be used to increase clothe allow by reducing competition from widows weeds and minimizing losses to disease and expletives. In total and fundamental see d down foods keep mineral take carriages high in the disfigurement. Without fertilisers, heavy harvesting, of nigh crops would deplete the soil of the minerals. A deficiency of any wholeness mineral limits plant growth. Fertilisers shtup increase crop yields however above a particular take aim, the increase in crop yield for each unit of fertiliser used gets less(prenominal). Worse to that is that if a high over use of fertiliser is used then it will result in a decrease in crop yield and also have the ache lasting make on the environment.Among the most intensive forms of farming are glasshouse cultivation of plants and manufactory farming of animals. twain(prenominal) these methods grow organisms indoor in a confined space under chequerled environmental conditions. Growing plants in greenhouses allows conditions such as light intensity, temperature, century dioxide concentrations, and mineral t rainwaters to be concordled artificially.Many people are over against factory farming due to the following reasons* intense cultivation is not cost good be fount it relies on the heavy use of dodo fuels* Antiobioitcs, cussicides, and growth-promoting substances whitethorn harm human health and the environment.* Excessive use of antibioticvs in farm animals is contributing to the evolution of antibiotic safeguard* Intensive cultivation isnt cost good and is damaging to the environment whereas organic farming isnt dependent on fossil fuels and is rectify for the environment.Land clearance for cultivation and for pasture reduces the number of home grounds available. Tropical forests are percipient for timber and record use on a massive scale, destroying important habitats and reservation the soil un shelter. Destruction of a habitat reduces variation and the gene pool.Maximum use is made of available agricultural land by intensive cultivation, including the use of process fertilisers. This causes there to be soil corroding and eutrophica tion. boorish pests cause stinting change to crops and farm animals. They digest have a terrible effect especially in monocultures in which barely one crop is grown. These systems are simpler than natural ecosystems and usually privation the piranhas of pests. Also, the growing the same crop on the same land again and again whitethorn allow the pests to increase in number.Pests attack crop plants and animals which reduces yield. They cause disease, hybridise stored food, compete for resources and increase the chance of unhealthful disease.These factors have a bad effect leading to a reduced amount of food produced and a huge economic loss for farmers. Pests for plants include weeds, louses and crop diseases widows weeds compete with crops for water system, light and ions, reducing crop yields Insects damage crops By eating leaves photosynthesis Tunnelling into stems steer Attacking roots water phthisis Destroying buds and shootsPesticides are poisonous chemicals used to reign over organisms considered to be prejudicious on culture or organisms related in disease transmission.Pesticides should be particular(prenominal), non persistent (biodegradable) and shouldnt accumulation.Pest delay crumbnot on the whole remove a pest. The phase is to remove enough of a pest so the farmer can get a good profit return.Pests can also be avowled chemically. This involves the use of herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides to kill the pests. The chemicals can be sprayed onto the crop, use as powders or smokes in enclose areas, sprayed onto animals or added to animal feed.Advantages of chemical control* Pests are destroyed quickly and slightly cheaply* chemicals can be employ on a small take aim* Doesnt need a high level of skill* Very effective core of controlDisadvantages of control* chemical substances arent specific and can damage non quarry insects. With the remotion of insect predators, there may be a resurgence in the pest* Pesticides contain poisonous chemicals which could enter into food fetter likely to then kill birds, search or mammals.* Pests could become resistant to pesticides.* Chemical residue could harm humansChlorinated organic chemicals such as DDT were invariable and remained in the environment for long periods, which is not what is required of a modern pesticide. However DDT was over used and this led to resistance from many species of insects.The suitable insecticide is an effective pesticide at low quantities and kills ruinous insects. Another key story is that it should have no environmental effects. Researcehrs are forever and a day making progress on develop on new compounds. In the modish generation of insecticides, the pyrethroid has been developed from the flower of the plant named Pyrethrum. However, the effect of the natural genus Pyrethrum was ensnare to be short term as it was quickly broken down by sunlight.Biochemists then used the natural pyrethrum as a beginning point to develop a much safer, stable compound, suitable for insect control in field crops. Farmers should spray their crops in proto(prenominal) morning or late evening to avoid harming passing by bees and ladybirds.Chemical pest control may involve the use of* Herbicides for control of weeds* Insecticides for control of insects* Fungicides for control of fungi* Molluscicides for control of slugs and snailsthither have been many problems with insecticides since the primary opinion behind insecticides was to kill all the pests come-at-able the effects on non-target organisms wasnt looked into, some of which are beneficial.Biological control target natural enemies to maintain the population of pest species. A beneficial organism (agent) is deployed against a harmful organism (target).The purpose is to reduce the pest population down to a level which is economically profitable. If the pest population was completely wiped out then it would have a counter effect because there would be no food f or the natural predator which would soon die out.Advantages of biological pest control* Can provide long term control if population correspondence is reached* Even though it is expensive in the short term (introductioin), it can work out cheaper in the longer term* Unlike chemical control, its exceedingly specific to a pest which means less chance of having an effect on non target organisms.* No environmental contamination* It can be used in a glasshouse situationDisadvantages of biological control* Success needs deep level of skill and research. This can be expensive.* Examples which have gained success are fairly few in number* A sodding(a) amount of knowledge is required about the life cycle.* Possibility of releasing organisms with unnoticeable ecological effects* Consistent introduce is needed to maintain a population stabilityThere are advantages and disadvantages of both chemical and biological control.Integrated pest management is the merging of the two methods. It is s een as a very effective manner of tackling pests. This is achieved by* Varying cultivation techniques* aim of biological agents* Minimal and well-targeted use of highly selective pesticides.Deforestation is having a effect on the environment. They are being buffet down for reasons such as* cut-rate sale of valueable timber* Freeing of land* change land for roadsThe trees are being cut down at a much faster rate than they can regenerate. The consequences of deforestation are* Soil erosion digging and ploughing loosen up the topsoil, which is aiding in the process of soil erosion.* The removal of vegetation affects the regional climate in general by reducing rain bloodline which increases race of desertification.* Deforestation of the watershed causes lowland flooding. The removal of vegetation on the higher slopes of valleys consequents in heavy rain sweeping uncovered soil to the floods below. On the lower slopes, plants and finger litter would act as a sponge and soak up water gradually released into the soil. Instead, due to the absence of plants, only evaporation occurs. This is generally slower than transpiration in returning water vapour to the atmosphere, so soil conditions become wetter.* Climate change A simplification in the level of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as there is less global synthesis. This leads to global warming. vinegarish down forests hasnt much effect on global carbon dioxide levels however since forests dismiss rapidly releasing lots of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which assists in acid rain and helps towards global warming.Destruction of natural habitats leads to reduction in biodiversity. It is estimated that most 50% of the earths species have it away in the rainforests even though rain forests only take up around 10% of the earths land. If natural habitats are used then it could make them become extinct. This may lead to a loss in medical properties of some tropical plants which havent been looked into. Agricultural is way of combating deforestation. Possible solutions to problems of deforestation* Managed forests involving the sustainable replanting and regeneration.* Providing protected areas to preserve species.There have been dramatic increases in the intensity and ability of commercial methods. This has meant that over- angle is happening in many areas of the world. Fish are a renewable source. Over-fishing results in a depletion of younger fish, so that the breeding stock cant maintain previous(prenominal) population levels. If the rate at which they are removed exceeds that at which they have been produced, their publish is disappearing. Fishing isnt examined for possible negative issues. In a fish farm, fish are replaced by artificial breeding. However in the ocean, fish are taken out of the sea from humans with no aim to replace them by breeding.Over fishing often causes both a minify in the number of fish and a change in population anatomical structure young little fish may become increasingly common as fishing fleets try to maintain the coat of the fish they catch. Catching large numbers pool of small fish before they sire can seriously reduce their ability of their species to reproduce. This could lead to a terrible fall in the local population of smaller fish. However fishing is likely to carry due to economic reasons, fishing is likely to stop before it can cause extinction.International agreements have been gained on control like* Enforcing exclusion zones* Imposing quotas* restricting the mesh size of nets bigger nets may allow juvenile fish to escape and reproduce.* Having closed seasons for fishing