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Jan 162012
Nov 022011
Nutrient pollution refers to a form of pollution in which nutrients, usually nitrogen and phosphorus, are present in a high concentration that is damaging to ecosystems. Nutrient pollution is primarily a problem in aquatic ecosystems, such as streams, rivers, bays, and lakes. It is particularly an issue of concern in lakes and relatively closed or contained bays, like the Chesapeake bay. Nutrient pollution is caused primarily by the over-use of fertilizers in agriculture, or by waste from animal farming operations. The negative effects of this pollution are to disrupt, damage, or destroy aquatic ecosystems, which often can have negative environmental impacts, by destroying fishing industries.
This article gives a brief overview of nutrient pollution, including its causes in agriculture and its effects on waterways and fishing industries. The article concludes with some concrete recommendations of what can be done to prevent this type of pollution, both for farmers, and for concerned citizens.
The term monoculture in agriculture refers to the growing of a single crop over a large area. Monoculture is the norm in most large-scale commercial agriculture in the U.S. and in many parts of the world. Monoculture has certain short-term benefits, primarily in terms of economy of scale, and automation of the production process (and thus reduction of labor costs). However, in the long-term, the disadvantages of monoculture are overwhelming – this farming method has numerous negative effects on the environment, and furthermore, these negative effects tend to become amplified over the long-run. This article weighs the pros and cons of this sort of uniform approach to agriculture, and points to some alternative practices that are more sustainable, both environmentally and economically, and thus superior on all counts in the long-run.
Pros and cons of monoculture farming: what are its advantages?
This article explores the distinction between organic and biodynamic agriculture. Most people are more familiar with the term “organic”, when applied to food or farming, as this term has entered the mainstream. The term “biodynamic” is less familiar, although it is most familiar in the area of wine. Both of these systems of farming aim to promote sustainability by reducing the use of synthetic, chemical inputs which can potentially be harmful to the environment and to human health. However, as this article explains below, biodynamic agriculture goes a lot farther than organics towards achieving this goal.
Both organic and biodynamic have certification systems: