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Soil contamination, soil pollution, or land pollution as a part of land degradation is caused by the presence of xenobiotic (human-made) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. It is typically caused by industrial activity, agricultural chemicals or improper disposal of waste .
Pollution by heavy metals decreases the soil organic matter composition resulting in a decline in soil nutrients which then leads to a decline in the growth of plants or even death. [ 198 ] Besides creating environmental damage, the contamination resulting from leakage of chemicals also affect the health of the local population. [ 199 ]
Approximately 78% of Earth's atmosphere is N gas (N 2), which is an inert compound and biologically unavailable to most organisms.In order to be utilized in most biological processes, N 2 must be converted to reactive nitrogen (Nr), which includes inorganic reduced forms (NH 3 and NH 4 +), inorganic oxidized forms (NO, NO 2, HNO 3, N 2 O, and NO 3 −), and organic compounds (urea, amines, and ...
China's high smog levels can damage the human body and cause various diseases. [49] In 2019, air pollution caused 1.67 million deaths in India (17.8% of total deaths nationally). [50] Studies have estimated that the number of people killed annually in the United States could be over 50,000. [51]
Additionally, [3] soil animals are considered key regulators of decomposition at local scales but their role at larger scales is unresolved. The most important arthropods that are involved in the process include carrion beetles , mites, [ 4 ] [ 5 ] the flesh-flies (Sarcophagidae) and blow-flies ( Calliphoridae ), such as the green bottle flies ...
The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) is a widely used mathematical model that describes soil erosion processes. [1]Erosion models play critical roles in soil and water resource conservation and nonpoint source pollution assessments, including: sediment load assessment and inventory, conservation planning and design for sediment control, and for the advancement of scientific understanding.
Deflation is divided into three categories: (1) surface creep, where larger, heavier particles slide or roll along the ground; (2) saltation, where particles are lifted a short height into the air, and bounce and saltate across the surface of the soil; and (3) suspension, where very small and light particles are lifted into the air by the wind ...
Moisture is a significant limiting factor in terrestrial ecosystems and majorly in the soil. [3] Soil organisms are constantly confronted with the problem of dehydration. [4] Soil microbial communities experience shifts in the diversity and composition during dehydration and rehydration cycles. [5]