In the agri-food sector, agricultural production activities can impact natural systems by altering transport processes, mainly water erosion, wind erosion, surface runoff, water infiltration into the soil, and chemical, physical and biological transformation.
▶ Alterations that, in turn, affect the subsequent generation and discharge of wastes, among these alterations derived from the transport of chemical substances are: the diversion into the atmosphere, at the time of application.
▶ Credits: Regimeshifts. – [Image of Public Domain]
In addition to volatilization and evaporation in the atmosphere; trapping and suspension, by the wind, of soil particles with adsorbed chemical substances; dragging of particles and chemical substances in runoff..
And also interflow in surface water, flushing or deep percolation through the soil, below the root zone and/or to groundwater aquifers; uptake of chemicals by plants and removal during harvesting.
Soil degradation caused by synthetic fertilizers can be chemical, generating soil acidification, nutrient depletion and salinization; physical, causing deterioration of soil structure through erosion; and biological, decreasing soil biodiversity and sources of organic carbon in the soil.
In any of the cases of application of chemical fertilizers, they generate environmental contamination, since the synthetic solutions contained in the mixtures of these products cause damage that over time have a negative impact on soil fertility.
NOTE: Reference material.