The Interrelationship between Agricultural Activities, Water Quality and Human Health

Dear Colleagues,

Agricultural activity is important for human survival.  In general agriculture practices, water is introduced into farmland for irrigation with possible pesticide and fertilizer applications. Water is also used for livestock breeding and aquaculture development. Agricultural practices may adversely impact water quality. Improper agricultural activities increase the concentrations of nutrients, fecal coliforms, and sediment loads in water.

The increase in crop production was achieved mainly through the massive use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. With the improvement in agriculture productivity, excess chemical use transfers agricultural pollution to receiving water bodies. The livestock sector is growing in almost all countries due to the increasing demand for food supply. Increased organic loading from animal waste causes the eutrophication of water bodies and the deterioration of aquatic ecosystems. All the associated waste and pollutants, including manure, have serious implications for water quality. In the practice of aquaculture, fish excreta and uneaten feed from fed aquaculture impair water quality. Increased production has also been achieved with the greater use of antibiotics, fungicides, and anti-fouling agents, which contribute to the contamination of downstream ecosystems.

Water pollution from agriculture has direct negative impacts on human health. To mitigate such a significant impact on the environment, efforts regarding investigations into (1) smart agriculture practices for environmental sustainability, (2) nutrient cycles of agro-ecosystems, (3) pollution control for agriculture, (4) assessment and strategies for assuring agro-ecosystem sustainability, and (5) other related investigations that enhance the resource consumption efficiency and sustainable agriculture are welcome in this Special Issue. Hopefully, these studies will be able to build a linkage between agriculture practices and sustainable agro-ecosystems to achieve the ultimate goal of environmental sustainability.

Prof. Dr. Chihhao Fan
Dr. Sheng-Wei Wang
Guest Editors

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