Soils are the base resource for food production yet agricultural activities can result in long-term damage. This paper focuses on the problems that result from high inputs of plant nutrients, from fertilizers or animal excreta, and from the pesticides that are associated with intensive production. Concern is not only about the direct effects on soils but also on leakages to both water and the atmosphere. Fortunately, the problems are becoming increasingly well recognized—but is it too late to prevent irreversible damage?
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