Running Head: AGRICHEMICAL USES RESEARCH PAPER

Agrichemical Uses Research Paper

Student’s Name:

Course Number:

Course Title:

Professor’s Name:

Date:
AGRICHEMICAL USES RESEARCH PAPER
2

Agrichemical Uses Research Paper

Introduction

Agriculture is undoubtedly a backbone for which many countries have thrived. Without

stable agricultural systems, countries will be unable to feed their people and thus living will be a

great challenge. With the increase in the world population, continued agricultural practices have

continued to intensify, leading to loss of soil fertility and land degradation. Technology has

however enhanced agricultural farming with the introduction of improved farming tools and

equipment. Use of agricultural chemicals such as inorganic fertilizers and pesticides, which

include fungicides, herbicides, pest animal baits, and insecticides, has been vital in improving

agricultural production (Korea Crop Protection Association, 2007). Through agrichemical use,

countries are able to produce easily, generally increasing the quantity and quality of agricultural

produce.

However, it is undeniably evident that most of these pose a serious hazard to human and

animal health, trade, and the environment if they are not used properly. Governments of

countries where agrichemical farming is pronounced should take appropriate measures and

guidelines to properly manage and monitor agricultural chemical use. The objective of such

monitoring and management is to ensure that the effects of the agrichemical practices are

controlled and do not threaten the wellness of the people (Nnamonu & Ali, 2013).

Countries with High Agrichemical Use

In this paper, the term “pesticides” will be used to imply plant protection products that

include fungicides and bactericides, herbicides, insecticides and acaricides, molluscicides, plant
AGRICHEMICAL USES RESEARCH PAPER
3

growth regulators, and other plant protection products. Whenever pesticides are sprayed, more

than 98 percent of the chemical reach other destination rather than the target elements. It should

be noted that the pesticides influence the environment as air, water, and soil pollutants. The

pesticides are however beneficial in that they destroy unwanted components such as insects,

weeds, and fungi that would otherwise lower the quality and quantity of crop production.

Across the globe, herbicides contribute to 40 percent of pesticides, 17 percent contributed

by insecticides, while 10 percent of pesticides are contributed by fungicides (Nelles & Visetnoi,

2016). Pesticides are used by farmers to ensure maximization of crop yield and thus increase

revenue for the farmers. In fact, estimates suggest that pesticide investments bring up to four-

times returns to the farmers. This benefit should not however shadow the many negative impacts

associated with pesticide use. Some of the most outstanding consequences of massive pesticide

use include environmental degradation, specifically water, soil and air pollution, as well as

deterioration human health that ranges from damage to nerve system to various cancers.

Countries which are leading in pesticide use in agricultural practices include China, United

States, Argentina, Thailand, Brazil, and Italy.

China

China leads the world in the consumption of pesticides. Specifically, about 4 billion

pounds of pesticides are applied annually. Such high amounts of pesticide use owes to the fact

that the country was among the first countries to use such chemicals. The practice was copied

from United States farming practices, and it is particularly pronounced in the China’s rice crop

production (Yang, et. al, 2014). Various researches have suggested that the present use of

agricultural chemicals in China have surpassed safe levels, thus contributing to tremendous
AGRICHEMICAL USES RESEARCH PAPER
4

human health problems and environmental pollution. In addition, China practices year-round

planting and harvesting, an attribute that has tremendously increased use of pesticides thus

leading to contamination of the soil.

With the contaminated soil, the country uses inorganic fertilizers, which are yet other

chemicals that create a cycle of agricultural additives that never ends. With increased pesticide

use, the surface runoff is usually contaminated and leads to high levels of pesticides in rivers,

lakes, and other water bodies lead to excessive number of plants that grow in these water bodies.

These plants take up the available oxygen and thus aquatic animals such as fish are killed. This is

the reason behind the fish shortages that has been experienced in China over the last decade

(Yang, et. al, 2014).

United States

United States is the second largest consumer of the pesticides in the world after China.

The country applies over 850 million pound of pesticides every year. The use of pesticides in

United States is a very common practice such that even household use the chemicals in their

lawns. The municipalities also use the pesticides for the parks. A study done in United States

found out that each waterway present in the country has some amount of contamination with

pesticides. In addition, estimated 90 percent of ground water sources such as wells is also

significantly contaminated (Nnamonu & Ali, 2013).

It is believed that residues from pesticides contribute to between 4,000 and 20,000 cancer

cases in a year. Contamination of the pesticides on water and air leads to estimated deaths of

between 6 and 14 million of fish, as well as 67 million deaths of birds (Young, Griffin, Alford &

Ogilvy, 2001). Water pollution has negatively affected amphibians such that they have suffered
AGRICHEMICAL USES RESEARCH PAPER
5

birth deformities as a result of damages on the nerve system. This aspect can be attributed to the

population decline of amphibians in the United States (Young, Griffin, Alford & Ogilvy, 2001).

Apart from China and United States, there are other countries which have considerable

contribution in the pesticide use. For instance, Japan consumes over 52 million pounds of

pesticides in a year despite the fact that the country has a small land area (Young, Griffin, Alford

& Ogilvy, 2001). The implication in this case is that such a country has a significantly more

concentrated contamination levels. Irrespective of the country where the pesticides are applied,

the effects are similar and detrimental in equal measure. The governments of these countries

should commit themselves in ensuring the production and use of the pesticides is controlled for

the sake of their citizen’s future.

Pesticide Use Context

Pesticides undoubtedly play a crucial role in agricultural production through elimination

and control of weeds as well as reduced damage of to crops and yield due to pest infestation.

However, it should be understood that uncontrolled use of pesticides can have negative

consequences on the environment such as deterioration of water quality, as well as terrestrial and

aquatic biodiversity that involves persistence and dangerous effects on species that are never

targeted when using the pesticides (Korea Crop Protection Association, 2007).

The risk posed on the environment as a result of pesticide use considerably varies

depending on the individual pesticide. The risk variability depends on such intrinsic factors as

characteristics of toxicity and persistence. Patterns of the pesticide use such as applied volumes,

crop and soil type, and application period and method are also factors influencing the

environmental risk of pesticides on the environment (Nelles & Visetnoi, 2016). In measuring the
AGRICHEMICAL USES RESEARCH PAPER
6

risk of pesticides on environment, there is need for harmonized statistical data. In order to

calculate true risk indicators, it is important to establish the toxicity levels of each active

component in the pesticide.

Policy Relevance

Due to the potential toxicity of the pesticides, many governments and regional

organizations have put across measures that are meant to control the pesticide use. For instance,

the European Union has established measures that are driven by the ultimate goal of protecting

the environment and human health from the negative consequences of pesticides toxicity. These

measures involve regulations that aim at achieving sustainable use of pesticides, controlling the

placement of plant protection products in the marketplace, quality environmental standards

especially on water policy, and the maximum amount of residue that is present on food materials

of plant and animal origin (Korea Crop Protection Association, 2007).

Effect of Agrichemical Use on Environment

Much research on the effects of pesticides on the environment have concentrated much

on water contamination, its impact on terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna, as well as the

effects on the human health. Different studies performed have however identified both direct and

indirect impacts perpetrated by increased use of pesticides especially on biodiversity. Direct

impacts of increased pesticide use include decrease and extinction of arthropods, as well as

reduced number of weed species due to increased use of herbicides. This attribute has led to

decreased fodder for both animal and birds use (Nelles & Visetnoi, 2016).
AGRICHEMICAL USES RESEARCH PAPER
7

Contamination of the environment as a result of pesticide use originates from drifts

during spraying, surface run-off, volatilization, as well as leaching. The fate of pesticides on the

environment is primarily determined by such characteristics as vapor pressure, solubility in

water, environmental persistence, and sorption characteristics. The vapor pressure controls how

pesticides volatilize and escape to the atmosphere while sorption characteristics influence the

bonding of both inorganic and organic soil surfaces. Basically, the sorption characteristics

influence the way pesticides move in the environment. The mobility of the pesticides in the soil

is influenced by factors such as soil pH, organic matter, and clay content in the soil.

The pesticides which have high solubility when dissolved in water are said to have a

lower sorption behavior. This characteristic increases their mobility when exposed to the

environment and thus easily undergo leaching towards tater bodies. The persistence exhibited by

pesticides when exposed to the environment varies significantly depending on several factors.

Some of these factors include water content, soil temperature, as well as susceptibility to attack

by enzymes and microorganisms.

Reducing Pesticide Use

Many researches which have been conducted in the past have identified that use of

pesticides can be logically justified when the benefits and compared with the costs. However,

there is still a feeling among critics that the rationale is well founded owing to the fact that the

effects on the environment and human health (Nnamonu & Ali, 2013). As at now, many

countries have laid down programs and policies that aim at lowering the use of pesticides. A sure

way that has been adopted by many countries is the practice of applying pesticides on when the

level of pest infestation and attack is high such that it may compromise produce as opposed to
AGRICHEMICAL USES RESEARCH PAPER
8

applying year-round. In addition, use of crop rotation practices has been embraced as opposed to

monoculture, which drains soul nutrients and other resources (Korea Crop Protection

Association, 2007).

The best alternative for reducing pesticide use is the practice of organic farming. Organic

farming is the practice whereby farmers use natural resources to improve crop yields and does

not involve use of farming chemicals whatsoever. Organic farming involves such practices as

biological pest control and organic fertilizers such as compost manure and bone meal. The

biological pest control involves use of predatory animals and/or insects so that they can eat the

pests that are capable of destroying crops and lower yields (Nnamonu & Ali, 2013). The rising

need for organically produced food materials has been on the rise due to the health risks that are

associated with the agrichemical-produced foods.

Conclusion

The current agriculture largely depends on chemicals for its survival. This is because

natural agricultural practices are no longer sustainable to feed the high population across the

globe. In addition, farming that has been done continuously in the farms have greatly degraded

the soil and thus calling for fertility improvement measures. Agrichemical practices have

however solved the problem of soil degradation and low crop yields and thus the current world

agriculture largely depends on agrichemicals. However, this paper indicates that there are

detrimental effects of increased use of chemicals in the farm practices that should never be

ignored. Since agriculture cannot thrive without the agrichemicals, governments should be more

active to manage and monitor the use of such chemicals such that they do not exceed the safe

levels.
AGRICHEMICAL USES RESEARCH PAPER
9

References

Korea Crop Protection Association. (2007). Agrochemical use guide book. Seoul: Korea Crop

Protection Association.

Nelles, W., & Visetnoi, S. (2016). Thailand's Department of Agricultural Extension and

Agrochemical Dependency: Perspectives on Contributing Factors and Mitigation

Strategies. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 22(3), 225-240.

Nnamonu, L. A., & Ali, A. E. (2013). Perception of agrochemical use and organic farming in

Makurdi, Benue State. International Journal of Environmental Protection, 3(8), 48.

Yang, X., Wang, F., Meng, L., Zhang, W., Fan, L., Geissen, V., & Ritsema, C. J. (2014). Farmer

and retailer knowledge and awareness of the risks from pesticide use: A case study in the

Wei River catchment, China. Science of The Total Environment, 497, 172-179.

Young, J. E. B., Griffin, M. J., Alford, D. V., & Ogilvy, S. E. (2001). Reducing agrochemical use

on the arable farm: the TALISMAN and SCARAB projects. London, UK: DEFRA.