Final answer:
Excessive agricultural practices lead to soil erosion, desertification, water pollution, pesticide resistance, and various health risks due to the overuse of chemicals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Excessive agricultural practices have numerous detrimental effects on the environment. These include soil degradation, water pollution, and the disruption of local ecosystems.
Soil erosion and desertification limit the land's ability to support agriculture over time and contribute to a decline in soil productivity. This is often due to wind and water erosion of topsoil, soil compaction, and loss of soil organic matter. Desertification is exacerbated by overgrazing and can turn fertile areas into deserts, particularly in Africa.
Another significant issue is water pollution caused by non-point source pollutants like salts, fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. These chemicals can leach into both groundwater and surface waters leading to issues such as eutrophication, which creates 'dead zones' where aquatic life cannot survive due to lack of oxygen.
Furthermore, agricultural practices can lead to pesticide resistance, harming both pollinators and beneficial insect species. Excessive use of pesticides can also have direct human health implications, including risks to farm workers who are exposed to these chemicals and contamination of food and water supplies.
In summary, the pursuit of higher yield through industrial farming has contributed to land degradation, including soil erosion, loss of organic matter, and increased salinity, especially in the regions like Mesopotamia and northern Africa. Moreover, the relentless extraction of natural resources has led to the destruction of ecosystems and significant environmental pollution.