Grade 7 Agriculture CONSERVING AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENT – Soil pollution control Notes

1. What is soil pollution? 🌱🚫

Soil pollution happens when harmful chemicals or waste get into the soil. Polluted soil cannot grow healthy crops, and it can hurt animals and people who eat those crops.

2. Common causes in Kenyan farms and towns

• Too much chemical fertilizer and pesticides on crops (e.g., vegetables, maize). 🧪
• Dumping of household or factory waste into fields or near rivers. 🗑️
• Oil spills from vehicles or small fuel leaks near farms. ⛽
• Improper disposal of e-waste and batteries which leak metals. 🔋
• Using untreated wastewater for irrigation. 💧

3. Effects of soil pollution

• Plants grow poorly or die, reducing food for families. 🌽🥦
• Harmful chemicals enter food and can make people sick. 🤒
• Soil loses useful nutrients and becomes hard to fix. 🏜️
• Polluted soil can poison rivers and groundwater. 🐟🚱

4. Simple visual: Good soil vs Polluted soil

5. How farmers and communities can control soil pollution

1. Use fewer chemicals: Apply fertilizers and pesticides only when needed and at the right dose. Read labels. 🧾
2. Use organic methods: Compost kitchen and farm waste to make good soil. Use manure and compost instead of only chemical fertilizers. ♻️
3. Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Use natural enemies (birds, bugs), traps, and crop rotation to save pesticides. 🐦🐞
4. Proper storage and disposal: Keep farm chemicals in safe places and return empty pesticide containers to collection points. Do not burn them. 🚫🔥
5. Protect water sources: Keep a buffer strip of grass or trees between farms and rivers to stop runoff. 🌳
6. Recycle and avoid dumping: Organise community clean-ups and dispose of waste correctly. 🗑️
7. Test the soil: Ask local agricultural extension officers or KALRO for soil tests if crops do poorly. 🧪

6. Easy compost recipe (for students to try with adults)

Mix kitchen vegetable peels, dry leaves, grass clippings and a little soil in a small bin. Keep it moist and turn it every 1–2 weeks. After 2–3 months you get dark compost to feed plants. 🌿🪱

7. What you can do as a student (simple actions)

• Do not throw rubbish on farmland or near streams. 🧹
• Join or start a school tree-planting or composting club. 🌳
• Tell adults to store chemicals safely and to use fewer pesticides. 👪
• Learn about local crops (maize, tea, vegetables) and how farmers protect soil. 🌾

8. Short quiz — check your understanding

1. Give one cause of soil pollution. (Answer: e.g., too many pesticides)
2. Name one thing you can do to help stop soil pollution. (Answer: composting, not dumping waste)
3. Why should we test soil? (Answer: to know what it needs and if it is polluted)

Notes: In Kenya, agricultural officers and community groups can help with soil tests and safe farming advice. Always ask a grown-up before using any chemical on a farm. For more help, contact your local agricultural extension or KALRO office.