Reduce Soil Pollution and Erosion

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“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself.” ~Franklin D. Roosevelt
Arable land is turning to desert and becoming non-arable at ever-increasing rates, due largely in part to global warming and agricultural fertilizers and pesticides, lessening the hope that we can feed our booming population. Within 40 years, there will be over 2 billion more people, which is the equivalent of adding another China and India. Food production will have to increase at least 40% and most of that will have to be grown on the fertile soils that cover just 11% of the global land surface. However, there is little new land that can be brought into production and existing land is being lost and degraded. The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization states that annually, 75 billion tons of soil, the equivalent of nearly 10 million hectares, which is about 25 million acres, of arable land is lost to erosion, water-logging and salination and another 20 million hectares is abandoned because its soil quality has been degraded. Contact with contaminated soil may be direct, from using parks, schools etc., or indirect by inhaling soil contaminants which have vaporized or through the consumption of plants or animals that have accumulated large amounts of soil pollutants, and may also result from secondary contamination of water supplies and from deposition of air contaminants. One by one, we can make a difference to help purify soils and restore balance to once fertile grounds, including your own backyard or farm. Learn more.
Why Reduce Soil Pollution?
“Both the human immune system and the plant immune system are fundamentally interdependent on the quality and fertility of the soil. Our immune system, and even our physical structure, are a reflection of the foods we have eaten from either toxic and nutrient depleted soils, or wonderfully fertile soils.” ~Eryn Paige
  • Reduce Deforestation and Begin Reforestation - Deforestation and soil erosion are very much interconnected. For example, the effects of acid rain and floods can decimate healthy soil in the absence of trees, which would otherwise help absorb and maintain these waters and the toxins that come along. Soil erosion can occur when there are no trees or few plants to prevent the top layer of soil from being removed and transported by forces of nature, such as water and air, which contribute to soil pollution. Through reforestation efforts and planting new vegetation in areas that are prone to erosion, soil pollution can be further prevented. Reforest the World

  • Avoid Intensive Farming Practices, such as over-cropping and over-grazing, as it leads to flood and soil erosion and further deterioration of the soil layer. Learn more.

  • Reduce Your 'Waste Footprint' - Waste, such as plastic, non-biodegradable materials and litter, can accumulate in fertile land, polluting and altering the chemical and biological properties of soil. According to the Clean Air Council, almost one-third of the waste in the U.S. comes from packaging - try to purchase materials with the least amount of packaging and always Reduce, Reuse and Recycle! Learn How To Reduce Your Waste

  • Discover Soil Washing, which uses water to remove contaminants from soils by “scrubbing” soil to remove and separate the portion of the soil that is most polluted. Soil washing reduces the amount of soil needing further cleanup and is typically used along with other methods to clean up the soil as it is usually not sufficient enough to do the job alone. Soil washing allows the clean-up of polluted soil in place without having to excavate. Discover the EPA's 'A Citizen's Guide to Soil Washing'

  • Discover Bioremediation - Use and incite the growth of naturally-occurring microorganisms to break down contaminants and remediate soil pollution by using them as a food source during the aerobic processes, which requires the right temperature, nutrients and amount of oxygen in the soil. Discover the EPA's 'A Citizen's Guide to Bioremediation'
NSW: EPA - Reducing Soil Erosion with Compost Materials
  • Use Soil Additives, such as lime and organic matter from composting, which can adjust soil pH to sustainable levels and reduce soil erosion and pollution. Learn more.

Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, stemming mainly from agricultural processes, is the primary source of damage to coastal waters in the U.S. and has created an oxygen-depleted "dead-zone" in the Gulf of Mexico. This 7,700 square mile section of water, which is an area approximately the size of New Jersey, is now devoid of aquatic life. In the U.S., approximately 40% of all chemical fertilizers applied to fields eventually changes into ammonia and is released into the atmosphere. Learn more.
"The earth neither grows old or wears out if it is dunged." ~Columella, circa 45 A.D, the most important writer on agriculture of the Roman empire
*dunged = composted


  • For Farming, Maintain Your Livestock Grazing Rate to Prevent Overgrazing. "Controlled grazing or management-intensive grazing (MIG, also known as rotational grazing) can be adopted to check unlimited access of animals to pastures and also to manage the grazing land effectively." ~WWF Learn more.

  • Use Crop Rotation in Cultivation Areas - According to Pesticide Action Center Europe, to prevent the soil from becoming exhausted to help create a biodiverse soil, which reduces the chance of soil bound organisms to get a pest, reduces the use of pesticides, helps minimize the growth of weeds and helps form a good soil structure that can result in a higher yield. Crop rotation performed with nitrogen-fixating rotation crops will reduce the input of fertilizers and, consequently, the pollution by nitrogen. Crop rotation combined with conservation tillage will lead to higher soil-carbon content, which helps combat climate change and soil erosion. Discover Crop Rotation
  • Reduce the Use of Chemical Pesticides, Fertilizers, Insecticides and Weedicides, whose overuse leads to soil pollution. These harsh chemicals may kill the intended weeds or insects that can damage and stunt the proper growth of the plant, but they are not easily broken down, accumulate in the soil, can be responsible for depleting the fertility of the soil and can be a threat not only to the plants, but also to the animals and humans consuming it. When these chemicals are used in the soil, the non-degradable metals that accompany the essential nutrients slowly begin to amass in the soil above preferred toxic levels, such as the notorious, damaging phosphate fertilizers. To give plants the nutrients they need for growth, while protecting the health and longevity of the soil, you should choose low-phosphorus fertilizers, try making your own organic fertilizer using a compost bin, or simply purchase organic fertilizers, which are harmless to nature and nourish the soil, unlike chemical fertilizers. Try to avoid pesticides as much as possible. Instead, try using organic pesticides, which help control pests without damaging the environment. Issues With Pesticides

  • Visit Sustainable Table and explore how to ask your local farmer about the erosion prevention techniques and nutrient management methods used on his or her farm. Visit, Learn and Ask

  • Purchase USDA Certified Organic Products, which must be produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers, along with many other benefits. Learn more | See also


  • Eliminate Weeds, which absorb the necessary minerals out of the soil. Eliminating weed growth can decrease soil pollution to a great extent. A common method of reducing weed growth is to prevent light from reaching the weeds in order to kill them by covering the soil with numerous layers of wet newspapers or a plastic sheet for several weeks before cultivation. Learn more.
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