Beijing, July 18 (ANI): The massive use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in China has led to a severe deterioration of arable soil and poses a major threat to domestic grain output.
The situation has led to some leading ecologists calling on authorities to reduce the use of agrochemicals.
According to Jiang Gaoming, a leading researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, grain growth will not last long if the government fails to take timely and effective measures, as the soil is already too poor to support high-yield crops.
Statistics from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) reveal that over one-third of land now has harder and thinner tillage layers, which mean crops cannot be planted as deep.
The China Daily quoted Jiang, as saying that the problems have been caused by the massive overuse of chemical fertilizers over the past 30 years, following China's pledge to realize grain self-sufficiency.
"More chemical fertilizer, more grain output - that's been a common misunderstanding among government officials and farmers for dozens of years. Crops were always fertilized, regardless of cost, to guarantee high production," Jiang said.
Experts also argue that an increase in plant disease and the deterioration of the environment have been triggered, partly, by years of chemical fertilizer use.
Zhang Weili, a CAAS professor on soil and fertilizer said that China uses 1.3 million tons of pesticides annually, with usage per unit area 2.5 times the global average.
"China can no longer boost grain production by relying on agrochemicals," Zhang said.
"More cultivated land will face risks of greater yield decreases in the next few years since the soil is too fragile to withstand natural disasters, which will become more severe and longer due to climate change," she added. (ANI)
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