Farmer's Weekly

Combating the effects of soil pollution

“Human activities over thousands of years have left a legacy of polluted soils across the world. These activities include, amongst others, improper disposal of hazardous and urban waste, industrial processes, mining, military actions and armed conflicts, and unsustainable agricultural practices.

In sub-Saharan Africa, agriculture, mining, transport and energy generation are sources of soil pollution, with pesticide use by farmers considered the most significant contributor of soil contaminants. The application of fertiliser to enhance crop production has also been shown to be a source of soil pollution in the region.

Manure as a by-product of livestock production can result in soil pollution when the manure is disposed of in landfill areas or stockpiled on other bare soil surfaces. A

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Farmer's Weekly

Farmer's Weekly2 min read
Ask Our Vet Avian Influenza In Dairy Cattle
I read a news story about highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) occurring among dairy cattle in Texas and Kansas in the US. What does that mean for farmers in South Africa? Kind regards, Anonymous On 25 March this year, unpasteurised milk samples
Farmer's Weekly9 min read
Alternative Methods To Combat Herbicide Resistance
Herbicide resistance starts with the loss of one or two herbicides but rapidly escalates as the increasing use of a smaller pool of herbicide actives greatly increases the selection pressure for weeds to evolve resistance to the remaining active grou
Farmer's Weekly3 min read
In Search Of A Steady Income
This wheat farmer had spent years trying different production methods to achieve consistent yields. Free State wheat farmer Cliff Haddad says: “One of the major problems associated with wheat production is stabilising yields and income. I am trying t

Related