Tag: sources of waste

Mining activities are one one of the major reasons for destruction of natural vegetation. Vast tracts of land are cleared and exposes the soil to erosion forces. Thus, degrading the area. This is called as mine spoil.

Grasslands provide forage to cattle and support wildlife based on grazing food chain. Grasslands have been put to two types of pressure : overgrazing and conversion. At one time, in the history of human civilization, cattle were reared in large number. The number continues to be high. For example : In arid and semi arid areas of India, the number of grazing animals is 2 to 10 times higher than the grasslands can support. This decreases productivity and quality of grasslands and causes Negative pollution ie reduction in soil productivity due to overuse. Positive soil pollution is reduction in soil productivity  due to addition of undesirable  substances e.g : Agrochemicals, industrial wastes, air pollutants washed down by rain, faulty sanitation etc.

Dumping of discarded particles of old furniture, utensils, glass pieces, ash, aluminium etc which are similar other products which do not get degraded and spoil the quality and profile of soil. 

When the wastes are disposed in the ground, there is leaching of the chemicals from the waste. This results in the soil pollution and contamination of the ground water. The oil and fuel, nuclear wastes and the coal ash are dumped by making pits in the ground. This results in the loss of the fertility and quality of the soil. So, nuclear waste is a source of soil pollution. 

When the soil is polluted, there is a decrease in the quality and fertility of the soil. The nutrients which were present in the soil has been lost. This results in a reduction in the number of microbes which were inhabited in the soil. So, when there is a decrease in the level of the microbial flora of the soil, it indicates that the soil has been polluted.

The removal or addition of substances and factors which decrease its productivity, quality of plants and ground water is called as soil pollution, reduction in soil productivity due to the addition of undesirable substances is a positive soil pollution and negative soil pollution is the reduction in soil productivity due to erosion and overuse. The neutral pollution mainly caused due to change in the pH of the soil. Thus, the correct answer is option B.

Soil pollution is caused by the addition of substances and factors which decrease its productivity. When the chemicals from the wastes are released into the soil, there is contamination of the soil. This results in degradation of the soil because there is a loss of fertility of the soil and the nutrient value is reduced. 

Most soils are naturally fertile but to maintain the fertile nature, fertilizers are needed. Green manure and biofertilizers contains range of nutrients in different proportions which are essential for plants.

Artemisia tridentata is an aromatic shrub. It is commonly called as sagebrush. It belongs to the family Asteraceae which grows in arid and semi-arid conditions, throughout a range of cold desert, steppe and mountain habitats in the intermountain West of North America.