EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Intensive farming can have severe impact on soil such as acidification, nitrification, desertification, decline in organic matter in soil, soil contamination (e.g., by heavy metals and agrochemicals), soil compaction, and erosion.

Detailed explanation-2: -Soil degradation is the decline in soil condition caused by its improper use or poor management, usually for agricultural, industrial or urban purposes. It is a serious environmental problem.

Detailed explanation-3: -Mechanisms that initiate soil degradation include physical, chemical, and biological processes. Important among physical processes are a decline in soil structure leading to crusting, compaction, erosion, desertification, anaerobism, environmental pollution, and unsustainable use of natural resources.

Detailed explanation-4: -Intensive agriculture is basically commercial agriculture where chemical pesticides and fertilizers are used to increase the crop yield to gain more profit. Excessive use of these chemicals reduces the fertility of soil by lowering the soil quality.

Detailed explanation-5: -The causes of land degradation There are six major causes of land degradation in the region: deforestation, shortage of land due to increased populations, poor land use, insecure land tenure, inappropriate land management practices and poverty.