Abstract
This chapter offers a comprehensive overview of agrochemicals in modern agriculture. Agrochemicals, including fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, are vital for boosting crop yields, managing pests, and enhancing farm productivity. While they have contributed to addressing global food security challenges since the Green Revolution, their improper and excessive use raises concerns of environmental contamination, soil degradation, and harm to nontarget organisms. Climate change adds further complexities to agrochemical use. To ensure long-term sustainability, integrated pest management, precision agriculture, and eco-friendly alternatives should be embraced. Responsible agrochemical use must be prioritized by farmers and policymakers, considering potential environmental and health impacts. By balancing the benefits and risks, we can work towards a more sustainable future in agriculture, ensuring food availability while safeguarding the environment.
TopIntroduction
Agrochemicals are chemical products comprised of fertilizers, plant-protection chemicals or pesticides, and plant-growth hormones used in agriculture. Agrochemicals are substances created and applied in agricultural practices to enhance crop quality, yield, and overall farm production (Roberts et al., 2007). Figure 1 presents the general classification of agrochemicals.
Agrochemicals demonstrate potential advantages in enhancing agricultural production systems' financial viability and addressing food security issues (Figure 2). They are held accountable for the dramatic increase in food production that has been experienced, particularly since the 1930s, when the Green Revolution began (Conway 2019). Agrochemicals are essential for modern agriculture because they provide nutrients, protect crops from pests and diseases, and promote efficient farming practices. 2,4-D, the first herbicide or weed killer, was invented in 1945 and served as a precursor for glyphosate in the 1980s and atrazine in the 1970s. The US government passed the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) in 1947 (Devi et al., 2022).
Figure 1. Classification of agrochemicals
Figure 2. Advantages of agrochemicals
Key Terms in this Chapter
Integrated Pest Management (IPM): A holistic approach to pest control that combines various strategies, including biological control, cultural practices, and chemical intervention, to manage pests in a balanced and sustainable manner.
Climate Resilient Practices: Farming methods and strategies designed to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, including altered weather patterns, increased temperatures, and extreme events, while maintaining or enhancing agricultural productivity.
Precision Agriculture: A modern farming approach that uses technology, such as GPS and remote sensing, to gather data and tailor farming practices, such as irrigation and fertilization, to specific areas within a field and optimize resource use and crop production.
Persistence: The ability of agrochemicals to remain active in the environment for an extended period, affecting the soil, water, and organisms.
Green Revolution: A period of rapid agricultural innovation and technology adoption that began in the mid-20 th century, characterized by the development and widespread use of high-yielding crop varieties, improved irrigation methods, and agrochemicals to boost global food production.
Agrochemicals: These are chemical products comprised of fertilizers, plant-protection chemicals or pesticides, and plant-growth hormones used in agriculture.
Precision Agriculture: A technology-driven approach to farming that uses data and information to optimize the use of resources, reduce input waste, and increase productivity while minimizing environmental impact.
Ecosystem Services: Benefits that humans derive from ecosystems, including pollination, water purification, soil fertility, and climate regulation.
The water–soil–plant–animal nexus: It is a conceptual framework that highlights the interconnectedness of water resources, soil health, plant growth, and animal well-being within agroecosystems.
Bioaccumulation: The accumulation of substances such as pesticides in living organisms over time as they are ingested through the food chain.