Soil Pollution ( BIOLOGY II )

By: Carmelita M. Capco and Gilbert C. Yang

Copyright 2010

Having previously discussed soil,its layers, and its significance to vegetation, we can
look into the problems pertaining to thr maintenance of soil as it is needed to preserve the
plant and animal populations

1. Depletion of soil minerals- minerals can be exhausted by overpopulation. The

most important lost from soil.
2. Loss of organic matter- Normally the organic matter presented in topsoil decays
slowly as it is acted on by bacteria and other soil organism. However, humans
may disturb this natural balance by planting and harvesting agricultural crops too
frequently, thereby depriving the soil of much organic matter.
3. Erosion- Erosion is a destructive process by which soil is lost through the action
of water and wind.
4. Leaching- When the field is plowed before planting, rains soak into the
pulverized soil easily.

Synthesis:

Soil Pollution is a form of Land pollution, Soil has minerals that is being exhausted
due to over production, Mineral which is important are lost because it became acidic or
sour. Organic matter present on the top soil decays slowly as it acted on by bacteria and
other organism present on soil. Sometimes Humans burn some wood and grasses in the
fields before plowing. This process diminishes the topsoil to the extent that much of the
soil flora dies out. Erosion is a destructive process by which soil is lost the action of
water and wind. This happens due to the poor farming methods. Plowing the field makes
soil pulverized, it is ideal process for young plants but it can also bring problems. The
mineral from the top soil are not dissolved in water so the plants can dissolve it.
Our Geologic Environment

Book by: Harvey Blatt

Organic Pollution of Soil

The whole topic of pesticides is contentious. They are believed by most

agriculturalists to be necessary to the large-scale agriculture that feeds modern
civilization, but their use brings numerous problems. Each year, thousands of people,
most of them not farmers, are admitted to U.S. hospitals for treatment of pesticide
poisoning. Pesticides should not be used indiscriminately.

Because of their harmful side effects, the use of pesticides in U.S. agriculture
decreased 15 percent from 1982 to 1992. New methods of pest control are emerging; the
buzzword for these techniques is integrated pest management. This refers to a
combination of using hardy plants, rotating crops from field to field, improved plowing
practices, biological controls, minimal use of chemical pesticides and even vacuum
cleaners.

Synthesis:

Organic pollution of soil includes the use of harmful pesticides which can bring
Americans to get admitted to hospitals for treatment of pesticide poisoning. And because
of their dangerous side effects, Americans decreased the use of pesticide and establish
new methods of pest management, these techniques are called integrated pest
management.
Soil and Water Pollution Monitoring. Protection and Remediation

By: Irena Twardowska, Herbert E. Allen and Max. M. Haggblom

Sorption to particles in soil or sediment determines the immediate biological

availability of chemicals to potentially affected organisms, the dispersions of
contaminants within an ecosystem, and the transport of contaminants to the other
ecosystem

Synthesis:

Sorption is a physical and chemical process by which one substance becomes

attached to another. Sorption plays a role in the assessment of present of future risks to
humans and ecosystems, and often enters into strategic decisions about remediating a
contaminated site.
Elements of Ecology, Global Edition

By: Robert Leo Smith and Thomas M. Smith

May 11, 2015

Elements of Ecology, Ninth Edition continues to explain ecological processes

clearly and concisely, with a greater emphasis on the relevance of ecology to everyday
life and the human impact on ecosystems. This dramatically revised edition discusses
issues of human ecology throughout the text and provides a greater variety of
opportunities for students to learn, practice, and develop quantitative and analytical skills.
With Elements of Ecology, 9/e you can: Help Students Interpret and Analyze Ecology
Data: New and expanded in-text instruction and practice is provided in Interpreting
Ecological Data figure questions, in-depth Quantifying Ecology boxes, and Analyzing
Ecological Data case studies. Many are expanded and assignable in MasteringBiology.
Keep Your Course Current and Relevant while also keeping students focused on learning
essential concepts: With updated "Field Studies" and research references throughout, the
Ninth Edition also provides a streamlined discussion on metapopulations and integrates
human ecology concepts into all chapters.

Synthesis:

This book is focused on the ecology meaning the political movement that seeks
to protect the environment, especially from pollution. It is also stated the soil formation
or soil property results from the interactions of five interdependent soil forming factors
namely the parent material, climate, biotic factors, topography and time, Because of this
five factors the soil have been severely disturbed over much of the landscape that causes
erosion. Many of the country is stated there that experiencing some natural disasters just
like landslide.
Fundamentals of Ecology: Third Edition

By: Eugene P. Odum (1953)

LAND USE

When the human population of an area is small, poor land use may affect only the
people who are guilty of bad judgement. As the population increases, however, everyone
suffers when land is improperly used, because everyone eventually pays for rehabilitation
or, as is now too often the case, everyone suffers a permanent loss of resources. Land use
is thus everybody’s business, and the application of ecological principles to land- use
planning is now undoubtedly the most important application environmental science. So
far, good land-use planning has come only after man has first severely damaged a
landscape. It is as Leopold has said: Man does not seem to be able to understand a system
he did not build and, therefore, he seemingly must partially destroy and rebuild before
use limitations are understood.

Out of the human misery created by soil erosion and dust bowls came the soil
conservation movement that is now an outstanding example of a conservation program
because it involves cooperation of local people, their state university, and their state and
Federal governments. Despite past success, the soil conservation profession has tended to
“sit on its laurels” and is failing to move with the times. In other words, the soil
conservation movement in particular, and land management science in general, needs to
go beyond its present rather exclusive farm, range, or forestry orientation to the
consideration of the urban- rural landscape complex where the most pressing problems
now exist.

Land-use planning for the urban areas is now the critical need, it is the deteriorating
quality of the urban and suburban environment rather than the eroding cotton- fields that
threaten the entire social and economic system. Drawing up and implementing good land-
use plans is infinitely more difficult in urban areas than on farms or rural watersheds
because of the tremendous difference in economic value that we now give to different
usages. Successful urban land-use planning (something that has not yet really been
accomplished anywhere) will require much stronger legal, economic, and political basis
than was required for bringing about the reforms of soil conservation.

Without such planning, there could very well be no open space by the year 2000, in
which case we would have the same kind of urban blight, chronic pollution and social
disorder that we now observe in the older, unplanned cities. Thus, planned cities are now
as necessary as planned farms. Society must quickly find a means of applying cybernetic
principles to the urban machine. It is clear that natural area space is a necessary of man's
total environment and land-use planning can be the most effective means of preventing
overpopulation of our own species providing something similar to “territorial” control.

Synthesis:

As the population increases, there are more land use occurs due to human activities.
Such land use threatens the quality of soil therefore, calls an action for soil conservation.
However, soil conservation needs to go beyond its present. Land- use planning is needed
in urban and suburban areas. Land- use planning can be the most effective solution for
preventing territorial control and lessen the continuous poor land use that results in soil
erosion created by humans.