23.
Agrochemical Degeneration Of Land
The use of cbemical fertilizers can reduce the natural nutrients on the soil surface. (Fred, 1991) Microorganisms decrease with the continued usage of the chemical fertilizers. (Katsunori, 2003) Chemical fertilizers are regarded as a non-point-source pollution for the environment. Because agriculture is heavily depended on the environmental resources, direct impacts are felt by local farmers with the loss of their ecological systems. (LIU Yu, et al., 2009)
Interestingly, if farmers apply chemical fertilizers or pesticides on their farms day in day out, this results in reduced pest control. Harmful organisms will become resistant and beneficial organisms which play a vital role in the improvement of the soil quality will decline. This also leads to land degradation. (Fred, 1991)
The chemical fertilizers used must annihilate both pests and other beneficial organisms that contribute high value functions in agricultural areas. (Preap, 2009)
Chemicals applied to soil take a heavy toll on earthworm which plays a vital role in maintaining soil fertility. (Richard, 2010)
According to Pierre A. Roger and Ian Simpson, 1991, chemical fertilizers are the greatest source of soil degradation and human activities are outweighing natural forces in degrading land resources.
Soil performs many important functions in the upkeep of the natural environment. It not only produces food but also acts as a carbon-sink, reducing the atmospheric pollution, protecting natural resource cycles and recovering nutrients. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides negatively impact soil’s ability to perform these functions. (Sununtar, 2006)
Chemical fertilizers, by increasing the abundance of the crops without replacing all the exhausted elements of the soil, have indirectly contributed to change the nutritive value of cereal grains and vegetables.
India is the second largest consumption in the world after China, consuming about 26.5 million tonnes. It accounted for 15.3 % of the world’s N consumption. 19% of phosphatic and 14.4 % of potassic nutrients in 2008(FAI, 2010)
Fertilizer consumption was around 78 thousand tonnes in 1965-66 and it picked up very fast during the late-1960s and 1970s. At the times of onset of green revolution in 1966-67 consumption of fertilizers was about 1 million tonnes. In 1970-71 total fertilizers consumption increased to 2.26 million tonnes which further increased to 12.73 million tonnes in 1991-92.
During 1990s total fertilization consumption fluctuated between 12.15 and 16.8 million tonnes. Total fertilization consumption reached record level of 26.5 million tonnes 2009-10.
By 2020 fertilizer demands in the country is projected to increase to about 41.6 million tones.
Interestingly, if farmers apply chemical fertilizers or pesticides on their farms day in day out, this results in reduced pest control. Harmful organisms will become resistant and beneficial organisms which play a vital role in the improvement of the soil quality will decline. This also leads to land degradation. (Fred, 1991)
The chemical fertilizers used must annihilate both pests and other beneficial organisms that contribute high value functions in agricultural areas. (Preap, 2009)
Chemicals applied to soil take a heavy toll on earthworm which plays a vital role in maintaining soil fertility. (Richard, 2010)
According to Pierre A. Roger and Ian Simpson, 1991, chemical fertilizers are the greatest source of soil degradation and human activities are outweighing natural forces in degrading land resources.
Soil performs many important functions in the upkeep of the natural environment. It not only produces food but also acts as a carbon-sink, reducing the atmospheric pollution, protecting natural resource cycles and recovering nutrients. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides negatively impact soil’s ability to perform these functions. (Sununtar, 2006)
Chemical fertilizers, by increasing the abundance of the crops without replacing all the exhausted elements of the soil, have indirectly contributed to change the nutritive value of cereal grains and vegetables.
India is the second largest consumption in the world after China, consuming about 26.5 million tonnes. It accounted for 15.3 % of the world’s N consumption. 19% of phosphatic and 14.4 % of potassic nutrients in 2008(FAI, 2010)
Fertilizer consumption was around 78 thousand tonnes in 1965-66 and it picked up very fast during the late-1960s and 1970s. At the times of onset of green revolution in 1966-67 consumption of fertilizers was about 1 million tonnes. In 1970-71 total fertilizers consumption increased to 2.26 million tonnes which further increased to 12.73 million tonnes in 1991-92.
During 1990s total fertilization consumption fluctuated between 12.15 and 16.8 million tonnes. Total fertilization consumption reached record level of 26.5 million tonnes 2009-10.
By 2020 fertilizer demands in the country is projected to increase to about 41.6 million tones.
When the government neglects agriculture, which is necessary for the production of food, the land becomes covered with unnecessary trees. Of course, many trees are useful because they produce fruits and flowers, but many other trees are unnecessary. They could be used as fuel and the land cleared and used for agriculture. When the government is negligent, less grain is produced. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (18.44), krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava jam: the proper engagements for vaisyas, according to their nature, are to farm and to protect cows. The duty of the government and the ksatriyas is to see that the members of the third class, the vaisyas, who are neither brahmanas nor ksatriyas, are thus properly engaged. Ksatriyas are meant to protect human beings, whereas vaisyas are meant to protect useful animals, especially cows.
Intensity of Fertilizer Use
In India, per hectare consumption of fertilizers has increased from 69.8 kg in 1991-92 to 113.3 kg in 2006-07, at an average rate of 3.3 percent.
On per hectare basis, fertilizer consumption was less than 2 kg during the 1950s and increased to about 5 kg in 1965-66. However, after introduction of green revolution in 1966-67, per hectare fertilizer consumption more than doubled in the next five years from about 7kg in 1966-67 to about 16 kg in 1971-72, which further increased and reached a level of 50kg in mid-1980s.
Average fertilizer consumption on per hectare basis crossed 100kg in 2005-06 and reached a record level of 135 kg in 2009-10. However, per hectare fertilizer consumption fell during 1973-74 and 1974-75 due to oil shock of 1973 when oil prices quadrupled almost overnight.
The next reversal in intensity of fertilizer use came in1992-93 when government decontrolled phosphatic and potassic fertilizers and increased fertilizer prices significantly. The total fertilizer consumption (N+P+K) fell by about 6 per cent from 69.84 kg per hectare to 65.45 kg per hectare.
However, during the last five years, intensity of fertilizer use has increased substantially (53%) from about 88 kg in 2005-06 to135 kg per hectare in 2009-10.
The intensity of fertilizer use varied greatly from about 48 kg per hectare in Rajasthan to as high as 237 kg per hectare in Punjab. The fertilizer use has generally been higher in northern (91.5 kg/ ha average) and southern (85.3 kg/ha average) region and lower in the eastern (44.7kg/ha) and western region (40.7 kg/ha).
On per hectare basis, fertilizer consumption was less than 2 kg during the 1950s and increased to about 5 kg in 1965-66. However, after introduction of green revolution in 1966-67, per hectare fertilizer consumption more than doubled in the next five years from about 7kg in 1966-67 to about 16 kg in 1971-72, which further increased and reached a level of 50kg in mid-1980s.
Average fertilizer consumption on per hectare basis crossed 100kg in 2005-06 and reached a record level of 135 kg in 2009-10. However, per hectare fertilizer consumption fell during 1973-74 and 1974-75 due to oil shock of 1973 when oil prices quadrupled almost overnight.
The next reversal in intensity of fertilizer use came in1992-93 when government decontrolled phosphatic and potassic fertilizers and increased fertilizer prices significantly. The total fertilizer consumption (N+P+K) fell by about 6 per cent from 69.84 kg per hectare to 65.45 kg per hectare.
However, during the last five years, intensity of fertilizer use has increased substantially (53%) from about 88 kg in 2005-06 to135 kg per hectare in 2009-10.
The intensity of fertilizer use varied greatly from about 48 kg per hectare in Rajasthan to as high as 237 kg per hectare in Punjab. The fertilizer use has generally been higher in northern (91.5 kg/ ha average) and southern (85.3 kg/ha average) region and lower in the eastern (44.7kg/ha) and western region (40.7 kg/ha).
There was a time in ancient past when Sahara was green.
In 1999, a group of German scientists used computer simulation to create a model of the Earth's climate thousands of years ago. They concluded that the climatic transition of the Sahara took place abruptly, within a possible span of about 300 years.
