Vol. 7, Issue 2 (2019)

There are ample evidences that global warming is caused by human activity: the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, industrial processes and changes in land use. Of the man-made pollutants, carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the principal greenhouse gas, but methane, nitrous oxide and industrial chemicals are also important. Available records show that global mean surface temperatures have increased by 0.6 ± 0.2 0C over the course of the 20th century. Since 1976 a rate of increase of 0.15 0C / decade has prevailed. In the northern hemisphere, 1990s constituted the warmest decade of the last millennium. Extreme events in Asia pose the greatest problem for farmers and there are some indications that extremes are already increasing in frequency. Climate change can affect agriculture in a variety of ways. Beyond a certain range of temperatures, warming tends to reduce yields because crops speed through their development, producing less grain in the process. And higher temperatures also interfere with the ability of plants to get and use moisture.

The major cause of pollution, particularly in urban areas is the City Wastes and industrial effluents. The disposal of city wastes and sewage effluents has become a major issue in peri-urban areas. More than 450 cities in India generate more than 17 x 106 m3 of raw sewage per day. With available treatment plant the production of sewage sludge is estimated to be around 1200 tonnes per day. The application of industrial effluents to soil is governed primarily by the nature of its constituent’s e.g. toxic element present in industrial effluents when applied to agricultural lands may enter food chain. However, industrial waste water could be used safely and effectively with proper precautions to increase soil productivity. The utilization of industrial effluents for agricultural purpose could also provide solution to their disposal problems. An attempt has been made in this paper to review the soil and environment related issues, their impact on human and plant life and their effective management by employing cost effective techniques.