Question

Explain how soil pollution can be prevented.

Answer 1

1. Avoid excess use of chemical fertilizers.

2. Promote Biofertilizers: To increase agricultural yield, without harmful effect to environment farmers should be encouraged to start using biofertilizers. The microorganisms in these fertilizers will help in increasing the fertility of the soil.

3. Promote use of Biopesticides and fungicides: To avoid soil pollution, it is important that along with fertilizers, farmers should shift to biopesticides and fungicides, also known as herbicides. These products will take a little longer to react, but they do not have an adverse effect on the soil.

4. Reduce toxic waste: Industrial toxic waste should be treated to reduce its toxicity before it is disposed off. At the same time, responsible methods should be used for disposing off the waste. The best, however, is to avoid the use of harmful chemicals unless they are of extreme importance.

5. Recycle waste: Although a lot of propaganda has been carried out about recycling waste, not many measures have been taken about the same. If each family has to take it upon themselves to recycle waste, the land pollution caused due to landfills will be reduced considerably. The land so saved can be used constructively for a number of better tasks.

6. Reuse: Plastic is one of the main cause of soil pollution, as it takes a very long time to disintegrate. Therefore, people should consider shifting to reusable containers like glass, cotton bags, etc. Although the paper does disintegrate faster, a lot of trees are cut for producing paper bags. Therefore, it is best to opt for cloth bags. Similarly, instead of using tissue papers in the kitchen, etc., one should opt using cloth napkins, handkerchief, etc. This will go a long way in reducing landfills.

7. Opt for organic products: There is no doubt that the organic products are costly as opposed to the chemically grown products. But choosing the organic products will encourage more organic production. This will help in preventing soil pollution.

8. Reforestation: To prevent soil pollution, more and more plant should be grown as trees prevent the top layer of the soil from being transported by different agents of nature like water and air. At the same time, measures should be taken to avoid overcropping and overgrazing, as it leads to flood and soil erosion and further deterioration of the soil layer.