5.10 Consequences of Agricultural Practices

As you probably know, agricultural practices can have a wide range of consequences, whether it's environmental or societal, but in this section, we’ll get into the specifics. 

Environmental Effects of Agriculture 

• Overgrazing 

• Grassland is grazed so much that the vegetation and topography are permanently damaged

• Desertification 

• The fertile land becomes desert-like, oftentimes a consequence of over-cultivation of deforestation 

• Existing vegetation becomes stripped away and soil loses vital nutrients 

• Overfishing 

• Over-exploitation where fish are reduced to below acceptable levels 

• Pesticides 

• DDT is a major example 

• Have harmed wildlife and polluted our waters 

• Soil Salinization 

• Pollution 

• Conservation efforts (to preserve the environment) 

Changing the Physical Landscape

• Slash and burn/Shifting Cultivation

• Large scale slash-and-burn is detrimental to the environment

• Cutting down trees (reducing biodiversity)

• Burning their stumps (damages the soil) 

• Terrace Farming 

•  Rainwater saturation (too much water absorbed into the ground) could lead to mudslides 

• Can lead to greater soil erosion if not managed properly 

• Irrigation 

• Can result in salinization, increasing the salt content of the soil

• Leads to a decrease in crop yield and soil fertility 

• Land submergence - the collapse of land because of too much ground water be pumped to the surface 

• Draining wetlands 

• Done to increase farmland but...

• Decreases biodiversity in plants and animals 

• Pastoral Nomadism 

• Overgrazing of fields leads to vegetation depletion 

Societal Effects of Agriculture 

• Changing diets 

• Role of women in agriculture production and consumption

• Food gathering -> farming -> managing agribusiness 

• Different types of food are being consumed (would you like pomegranate, some coffee, or perhaps some edamame?) 

• Food is being prepared in new ways (mmm stir fried veggies!) 

• The purpose of agriculture (geared towards the economy) 

• Although agriculture was once geared toward individual consumption, it has since shifted to global consumption. Agriculture has become a necessary component of our economy and the purpose of agriculture has become increasingly focused on profits.

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