Impact of agrochemicals on soil health

Modern agriculture fundamentally relies on an extensive use of agrochemicals to enhance crop productivity by controlling harmful pests, pathogens, and undesirable weeds. However, currently, we have reached a stage where several threats are emerging on food security, human and environmental health, maintenance of ecological balance, and conservation of the soil biodiversity. Long-term unbalanced use of agrochemicals may lead to community shift of beneficial microorganisms with dangerous consequences such as the development of antimicrobial resistance. Agrochemicals usage in farming systems may adversely influence soil microorganisms that are mainly involved in nutrient cycling processes, such as nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, and other essential nutrient biotransformation. The recent report established that some agrochemicals reduce biochemical reaction and activities of soil enzymes that are key indicators of soil microbiological health. This chapter focuses on the effects of applied agropesticides on soil microbiological and biochemical health attributes under different cropping systems.