Question

How is water pollution caused by agricultural practices? Suggest ways to minimise water pollution by agricultural practices.

Answer 1

Water pollution - The unwanted and harmful change in the chemical and physical properties of water is called water pollution.

Water pollution caused by agricultural practices -

1. The excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides on crops results in the washing away of these toxic chemicals into rivers and other water bodies and thus polluting them.
2. These toxic chemicals sometimes get washed away due to rain and percolate through the soil and reach groundwater making it unfit for human use.

Ways to minimise water pollution by agricultural practices -

1. The use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers should be kept to a minimum.
2. The use of natural pesticides like citronella and manure should be encouraged.
3. Modern irrigation techniques like drip irrigation should be employed to prevent the percolation of toxic chemicals into groundwater.