5.10 Consequences of Agricultural Practices

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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