Agriculture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Agriculture - Essay Example ides to kill pests instantly, and insertion of toxin genes in plants to kill feeding insects or larva (as in the case of genetically modified crops like Bt corn). There are some significant effects of modern agriculture on the environment. Extensive use of pesticides pollutes the air and causes respiratory and other health problems in humans and animals. These effects can be fatal in extreme cases of pesticide poisoning. The prolonged use of fertilizer, especially nitrogen, results in the decrease of soil pH. This means the soil becomes acidic, and therefore this will lead to subsequent yield reduction until such time that the soil becomes unfavourable for productive crop growing. Growing genetically modified herbicide tolerant crops (which is coupled with extensive herbicide use) may alter the weed population and microfauna in areas where they are cultivated. Extensive land preparation also has effects on the soil texture, soil microflora, and fauna. Agricultural pests can be insects, microbes, rodents, fungi, weeds. The primary effect of pests in agriculture is to decrease by some degree, the yield that is economically important. Extreme pest infestation can lead to famines. As an example, the potato blight, a fungus responsible for the Ireland famine in the 1800s, has resurfaced in the Andes region lately, seriously affecting potato yields (Barclay) and causing fear of famine. Locust infestation is devastating and has been responsible for famines even during biblical times. In rice growing areas, the major pests are rodents and snails that cut rice stems therefore reducing the number of productive tillers and diseases like blast and tungro. Livestock also have pests that can cause epidemics; like the bird flu which is caused by a virus. Chicken with, or suspected to have, bird flu, are killed and this results in a shortage of chicken and eggs, and consequently, increase in prices of these commodities. Another notable disease is the mad cow disease that led to