Agrochemicals and Their Importance in Agriculture

What do you mean by agrochemicals?

Various chemical products used in agriculture are called agrochemicals or agricultural chemicals. Chemicals such as pesticides, insecticides, natural herbicides, fungicides chemicals, and natural nematicides, all fall under the category of agrochemicals. It may also contain synthetic fertilizers, hormones, or other chemical growth agents, as well as raw animal manure concentrates. The quantities and standard of agricultural products are improved by agrochemicals.

What are the types of agrochemicals?

Agrochemicals include pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, along with fertilizers and soil conditioners. Insects and animals are a severe plant risk. When attracted to a source of food, the supply of this particular plant could significantly decrease. As the name suggests, pesticides defend crops by destroying, disabling, or avoiding such pests. 

Many fungal species were also known for causing significant crop damage. Such materials prevent fungi from damaging any crop. In addition, a large number of fertilizers are natural. They are not agrochemical since no unique chemical formula has been developed or produced. Without them, healthy, reliable crops will be much harder to produce. The value of fertilizers is so high that a number chose synthetic agrochemical varieties to improve natural fertilizers.

What is agrochemical pollution?

Agricultural pollution is the biotic and abiotic waste products of agriculture that contribute to pollution, degradation, and/or injuries to human beings and their economic interests, of the environment and surrounding ecosystems. Food and drinking water may be polluted by agrochemicals, and human health may be at risk. This may lead to both physical and chemical degradation and a significant decrease in crop yield to the loss of microflora and fauna in the soil. The impact of agrochemical emissions on our farming systems is numerous.

The use of both natural and synthetic fertilizer, however, can lead to excess nutrients that can cause health and water problems. The excessive use of various fertilizers is widely referred to as agrochemical waste and can pollute food and groundwater crops. Nitrates can enter the water bodies quickly and are highly soluble. By several nations, phosphate-rich soils and high levels of phosphate are detected for groundwater.

Effects and adverse effects

Agrochemicals are usually toxic and can pose significant environmental risks when stored in bulk storage systems, mainly when accidental spills occur. The use of agrochemicals in many countries has become highly regulated, and permits provided by the government may be necessary for purchasing and applying approved agricultural products. Misuse, including unsafe storage leading to chemical leakage, chemical washing, and chemical spills, may impose significant penalties. Where such chemicals are used, they also fall under the mandatory rules and regulations, proper storage facilities and marking, emergency clean-up equipment, emergency clean-up protocols, protective equipment, as well as protective methods for treating, applying and disposing of.

Along with agrochemicals, they can also cause environmental harm as they increase plant and animal growth. Excessive use of fertilizers has contributed to nitrate pollution, a chemical compound that is harmful to humans and animals at large amounts. Furthermore, the rivers polluted with fertilizers may increase algae production, and this may have an adverse effect on the life cycle with fish and other aquatic animals.

Benefits of agrochemicals

Despite all the above effects, if agrochemicals are handles carefully may give fruitful results. The benefits of agrochemicals are not limited to growing crop yield. Some of the pesticides consumed by farmers contain diseases. Persons who eat plants in contact with disease-provoking organisms have been at risk of these diseases before pesticides were widely used. This is much less of a threat due to the increased use of pesticides in farms around the world. Crop protection solutions enable farmers in food production processes to increase crop yield and output. As weeds, pests, and diseases have an impact on up to 40% of the future crop production worldwide, if current pesticide uses were eliminated, this would increase.

Food production would deteriorate without crop protection chemicals, many fruits and vegetables would be missing, and prices would increase. Another significant advantage of pesticides is to help keep food prices in check for the consumers. Chemicals for crop protection to minimize and, in some cases, eliminate insect damage allow the customer to buy high-quality insect-free products while at the same time doing little harm to human life.

About the Author(s)

Princy A. J

Princy holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the prestigious Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. University at Chennai, India. After a successful academic record, she pursued her passion for writing. A thorough professional and enthusiastic writer, she enjoys writing on various categories and advancements in the global industries. She plays an instrumental role in writing about current updates, news, blogs, and trends.