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TOPSOIL LOSS DUE TO AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

PROBLEM STATEMENT

In his essay, “The Tragedy of the Commons’’, Hardin argued that the rapidly increasing

population would eventually deplete our natural resources. He warned that the tragedy

would eventually threaten human existence. Therefore, he urged the society to implement

counter measures to solve the menace. Topsoil, one of the world’s natural resources, could be

depleted soon. The soil’s uppermost layer is essential in our food production (Biswas, 1978).

It accounts for about 95% of the world’s food production. The increasing population has

intensified agricultural practices. It has also forced farmers to increase their agricultural

output to sustain the global population. Farmers have been able to achieve higher agricultural

output by practicing conventional farming methods that disregard the conservation of the

topsoil (Srinivasan, 2012). The farming methods alter the soil topography and stability,

which will eventually increase topsoil erosion and reduce its quality (Lundekvam, 2003).

Rapid depletion of the soil will greatly reduce the society’s capacity to feed it ever-increasing

population. The society will experience extreme malnutrition and constant famines.
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Therefore, implementation of counter measures that involve regulated and guided

agricultural measures will be key in preventing the menace. According to Hardin,

implementation of such measures and controlled human population are crucial in protecting

the natural resource.

HARDIN’S ARTICLE SUMMARY

Hardin’s essay describes ecological issues that arise with the increasing human population. In

the essay, Hardin refers to the natural resources as the “commons”, which are readily

accessible to anyone. The commons are vital in the ecological and are vital for human

existence. He explained that the uncontrolled increasing population will eventually deplete

the commons. In this case, the productive land is readily available to anyone. The increasing

population allows farmers to exploit the land for their personal gain. It provides incentives

that promote the detrimental practices that facilitate the topsoil loss. A high population

provides a larger agricultural market for the farmers. It encourages farmers to increase their

productivity because they are guaranteed of huge sales. Therefore, their individual interests

to maximize their profit gains forces them to practice agricultural activities that will lower

their cost of production. The activities include excessive farming that increase topsoil erosion

and reduce the soil quality. Furthermore, more people would be encouraged to be farmers

who practice poor farming methods for their selfish gains. Therefore, their collective

personal gains will eventually lead to unproductive lands and they will not be able to achieve

an agricultural output that will sustain their markets. The farmers will lose their markets and

the society will not have enough food. In this case, the farmers’ individual and collective
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selfish interests would put everyone at risk. Their collective selfish interests will eventually

decrease their agricultural output and earnings. In other words, the two factors, fertile land,

and human population, cannot be maximized at the same time (Hardin, 1968). Hardin also

opposed the society reliance on technology to protect the depletion of the natural resource

because they can only offer temporary solution, which will eventually accelerate the

depletion of the resources. This is because technological solutions will further increase the

population and accelerate the depletions of the commons. Therefore, Hardin suggested

control measures that incorporate administrative implementation must be put in place to

protect the commons.

TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS

Farmers have continued to use traditional farming methods, which are cheaper, to maximize

their profit margins (Biswas, 1978). These methods include land tillage, excessive use of

insecticides and pesticides and excluding the use of crop covers during farming (Srinivasan,

2014). Although the farming methods are cost effective, they are unsustainable because they

increase the rate of topsoil erosion. The agricultural practices accelerate the rate of topsoil

erosion. Besides, the increasing population has increased the demand for a higher agricultural

output, which continues to encourage the poor farming methods (Larsen, 2014). If the

practice of such farming methods continue, the world could lose its productive soil in sixty

years (Zalidis, 2002). Consequently, the soil would be soon infertile and this would threaten

human existence. Therefore, technical solutions that include use of crop covers, terracing,
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no-till farming, crop rotation and reduced use of insecticides and pesticides should minimize

the rate of topsoil erosion.

According to Food and Agriculture Organization report, crop covers reduce the rate of

topsoil erosion by reducing wind and water runoff velocity (FAO, 2015). They also improve

the soil structure when the undergo decomposition. Excluding the use of crop covers in

farming practices, facilitates rapid topsoil erosion and degrades soil quality and structure.

Farms without crop covers experience topsoil erosion rate of at least 10 tons per year (FAO,

2015). Furthermore, during rainy seasons the erosion increases to about 100 tons per year

(FAO, 2015). Therefore, use of crop covers is essential in minimizing topsoil loss.

Intensive land tillage also increases the rate of topsoil erosion. It is facilitated by the use of

machinery such as tractors. Excessive land tillage alters the structural properties of the soil.

This makes the topsoil more vulnerable to erosion during strong winds and water runoff

(FAO, 2015). Furthermore, excessive land tillage reduces the soil aeration, which reduces the

rate of decomposition of the organic material present in the soil (FAO, 2015). The decrease

in the decomposition reduces the amount of nutrients and humus (FAO, 2015). This

decreases the quality of the topsoil. Therefore, no-till farming is a sustainable agricultural

practice that conserves the topsoil.

Farms in the highlands are prone to massive soil erosion (FAO, 2015). However, the

increased population has encouraged intensive farming in these areas. This has increase the
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rate of the topsoil loss in the highlands. Terracing is one of the most efficient methods of

conserving the topsoil in sloppy areas. It involves separating land in a series of steps to

minimize the rate of water run-off and the effect of strong winds, which reduces the rate of

soil erosion (FAO, 2015). Therefore, implementing the agricultural practice will reduce the

rate of topsoil loss.

Heavy use of pesticides and insecticides account for the massive topsoil loss in the recent

years. It contaminates productive soil with hydrocarbons, particulates, mineral salts and

heavy metals (FAO, 2015). For instance, it accounts for the contamination of about 80,000

sites in Australia (FAO, 2015). Furthermore, thousands of such as DDT, Heptachlor,

Chlordane and Aldrin have leaked into productive soils (FAO, 2015). The chemicals alter the

soil’s biological and physical properties (e.g. pH, water retention capacity and temperature)

negatively. This reduces the available organic matter present in the soil, which stabilize the

topsoil loss from rapid erosion (FAO, 2015). Therefore, reducing the usage of the harmful

chemicals and promoting the use of bio-friendly products in farming will conserve the

topsoil.

NON-TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS 

Hardin explained that collective action is unreliable in protecting the commons. He

recognized that humans have a tendency to ignore to their conscience, which allows them to

recognize the negative consequences of their actions. Hardin also explained that if people had

the capability to act on their conscience, they would be able to provide suitable corrective
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measures that would protect the commons. These corrective measures would involve

sustainable agricultural practices such as terracing, use of crop covers, no-till faming and use

of bio-friendly products. However, it has been proven that individuals are unlikely to

acknowledge their conscience in pursuit of their selfish gains (Uetake, 2014). Implementing

the sustainable practices would decrease their overall agricultural productivity and their

earnings. Therefore, they are likely to ignore the sustainable practices to secure their profit

gains. Therefore, the society should not rely on the voluntary collective actions of individuals

to protect the commons.

Harding proposed the implementation of administrative policies that promote collective

action. He argued that people are incapable of promoting conservation measure in pursuit of

the selfish interests. Therefore, administrative polices that protect the commons are crucial in

ensuring the society to preserve natural resources. In the 1950’s, Norwegian farmers were

heavily supported by their government subsidies (Lundekvam, 2003). This led to a rapid

increase in the agricultural productivity, from 30 percent to 80 percent (Lundekvam, 2003).

Furthermore, the government continued to encourage land levelling in the 1970’s by

increasing the subsidies (Lundekvam, 2003). The intensive farming practices eventually led

to rapid decrease in soil covers, which led to adverse effects of massive topsoil erosion

(Lundekvam, 2003). This forced the government to implement a program that taught farmers

on agricultural activities that protect the topsoil and also paid them to implement the

practices (Lundekvam, 2003). These events prove that administrative intervention is

necessary in implementing technical solutions that safeguard the topsoil.

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Hardin also proposed mutual coercion as a solution in protecting natural resources. It

involves collective monetary contribution, taxation, fund and promote sustainable corrective

measures. Hardin explained that it is impossible for people to contribute voluntarily for a

good cause. Although some people are conscious and would be willing to be part of

protecting the commons, most people will choose to be consciously and disregard the need to

protect commons. Therefore, compulsory taxation is necessary to solve the topsoil menace.

For instance, the most contaminated land in the United States are frequently published to

inform the public on the extent of land contamination (FAO, 2015). Lands that require

immediate rehabilitation are determined and they are rehabilitated using the taxpayers’

money. Scientific studies have also shown that forestation in essential in protecting the

topsoil against erosion. It provides soil cover that reduces the rate of water runoff and shield

against strong winds. Governments have embraced the studies and have implemented local

policies to increase the overall soil cover. They also fund tree planting programs using the

taxpayers’ money to ensure the implementation of the policies. Therefore, mutual coercion is

an effective solution in protecting the commons.

Hardin also proposed population control to protect the commons. According to his essay, the

increasing population increases the selfish collective interests, which accelerate the topsoil

loss. Massive topsoil loss will eventually limit agricultural production and threaten human

existence. Therefore, governments should also implement measures that will control the

world’s population.
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SOLUTION AND SUMMARY

Hardin’s essay encourages us to recognize the importance and the urgency to protect the

commons. Population pressure and the collective selfish interests of the farmers have

facilitated the rapid topsoil loss. Besides, the individual interests of farmers have encouraged

the society to ignore the urgency required to protect the commons. Their desire to maximize

their profit gain will eventually threaten our existence. Furthermore, if the society fails to

acknowledge the effects of rapid population, efforts to safeguard the topsoil will be futile.

Therefore, the most suitable solution to protect the commons will incorporate administrative

implementation of the technical solutions that conserve the topsoil. Governments should put

up laws and policies that discourage use of traditional farming methods that do not conserve

the topsoil. The laws and policies should also include subsidies for farmers who observe

sustainable agricultural practices and heavy fines for those who do not. Besides, the

governments should impose heavy taxes on insecticides and pesticides that contain heavy

chemicals to encourage farmers to consider bio-friendly options. Governments should also

put up regulations that relinquish the freedom to breed. For example, higher taxes for parents

with more than two children to encourage people to have fewer children.
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REFERENCES

Biswas, Margaret R., and Asit K. Biswas. "Loss Of Productive Soil". International Journal Of

Environmental Studies, vol 12, no. 3, 1978, pp. 189-197. Informa UK Limited,

doi:10.1080/00207237808709781.

Larsen, Erika et al. "Soil Biological Properties, Soil Losses And Corn Yield In Long-Term

Organic And Conventional Farming Systems". Soil And Tillage Research, vol 139,

2014, pp. 37-45. Elsevier BV, doi:10.1016/j.still.2014.02.002.

Lundekvam, Helge E. et al. "Agricultural Policies In Norway And Effects On Soil Erosion".

Environmental Science & Policy, vol 6, no. 1, 2003, pp. 57-67. Elsevier BV,

doi:10.1016/s1462-9011(02)00118-1.

Srinivasan, V. et al. "Long Term Effects Of Topsoil Depth And Amendments On Particulate And

Non Particulate Carbon Fractions In A Miamian Soil Of Central Ohio". Soil And

Tillage Research, vol 121, 2012, pp. 10-17. Elsevier BV,

doi:10.1016/j.still.2012.01.014.

"Status Of The World’S Soil Resources". Fao.Org, 2015.

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Stoltenberg, N. L., and J. L. White. "Selective Loss Of Plant Nutrients By Erosion1". Soil

Science Society Of America Journal, vol 17, no. 4, 1953, p. 406. Soil Science Society

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"The Tragedy Of The Commons". Vol 162, no. 3859, 1968, pp. 1243-1248. American

Association For The Advancement Of Science (AAAS),

doi:10.1126/science.162.3859.1243.

"The World Needs Topsoil To Grow 95% Of Its Food – But It's Rapidly Disappearing". The

Guardian, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/30/topsoil-farming-

agriculture-food-toxic-america.

Uetake, Tetsuya. "Agri-Environmental Management Through Collective Action". Eurochoices,

vol 13, no. 3, 2014, pp. 29-34. Wiley, doi:10.1111/1746-692x.12072.

Zalidis, George et al. "Impacts Of Agricultural Practices On Soil And Water Quality In The

Mediterranean Region And Proposed Assessment Methodology". Agriculture,

Ecosystems & Environment, vol 88, no. 2, 2002, pp. 137-146. Elsevier BV,

doi:10.1016/s0167-8809(01)00249-3.