Solution to Water Pollution & Soil Erosion

Agriculture, Erosion and Water Pollution

• One of the chief sources of water pollution comes from agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers. When overapplied, these fertilizers run off of the soil and into waterways such as lakes and rivers. Fertilizers do not pick and choose what plants they feed, and microscopic aquatic plant populations burgeon with the application of fertilizers. As these tiny plants die and fall to the bottom of the water, they deplete oxygen in the water, creating an unlivable environment for other aquatic life.

  Soil erosion causes a loss of the top layer of soil, which usually contains high levels of nutrients. Nutrient depletion creates a less fertile soil, requiring more fertilizers in order to grow crops. Furthermore, these nutrient-rich soils often end up in waterways, where they contribute to nutrient pollution.

Preventing Erosion

• Soil erosion occurs when water or wind carries away soil particles. Good landscaping and gardening practices can minimize the soil erosion occurring in your yard.

  Bare soil invites erosion. Landscape plants -- from the grass underfoot to towering shade trees -- help to hold soil in place with their roots. Groundcovers can hold soil in place even in areas where it's difficult to grow grass, such as slopes or shady areas.

  Never leave the soil bare. Mulch areas around trees where you don't want or can't grow grass or groundcover. When you clean out your vegetable garden for the winter, plant a cover crop or cover the garden with a thick blanket of mulch. Both will help prevent erosion while also improving your soil.

Smart Fertilizer Use

• The synthetic fertilizers used in gardens are the same as those applied to agricultural land and carry the same risks of polluting waterways. Many gardeners and homeowners mistakenly believe that if a little fertilizer increases growth, then extra fertilizer will cause even greater growth. This is not the case, and the excess often ends up in waterways or groundwater.

  Before applying any fertilizers, have your soil tested to determine what nutrients you need to apply. When applying fertilizers, read the label carefully and follow the application instructions precisely, including with respect to application amount.

Nutrient Run-Off

• A 1973 study done at the University of Minnesota found that removing plant debris like fallen leaves and grass clippings from the street reduced phosphorus run-off by 30 to 40 percent. When cutting your grass, leave clippings on the lawn -- the same nutrients that can pollute local streams will give you a lush, healthy lawn -- and sweep up any that blow onto hard surfaces. In the fall, keep street gutters clean of leaves. Use your mower to cut them small and leave them on the lawn, or use the leaves as a mulch to cover your vegetable garden.