How does agricultural runoff containing fertilizers and pesticides contribute to environmental pollution? What measures can be taken to mitigate the impact of agricultural runoff?

Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Runoff

1. Eutrophication:- Algal blooms caused by excessive nutriets → Increase in Biological Oxygen Demand → Depletion of Biodiversity.

2. Water pollution with bacterial contamination. e.g. e-Colli.

3. Soil Degradation Soil Erosion cum leaching of essential nutrients → lower productivity.

4. Overdose of Fertilizers & Pesticides to compensate losses. e.g. Instead of 8:4:1 N:P:K → 10:6:1 N:P:K.

5. Loss of water

   • poor irrigation efficiency
   • groundwater pollution (due to seepage).

Measures required.

(A) To prevent run-off by adaptation → Scientific use of Chemicals post soil testing. → Incentives to reduce use. e.g. PM PRANAM scheme. → Nutrient based fertilizer subsidy to check overdose & pilferage. → Digital Solutions. e.g. QR codes, precision tech, fertigation, etc.

(B) Mitigating the problem → Opting for Zero Budget Natural farming (ZBNF) to use soil based inputs. → Pramparagat Krishi Yojana for organic farming. (e.g. Sikkim for best practices). → HYV varieties with less need of fertilizers & pesticides. → Growing millets, etc. which require less fertilizers.