(i) Sources of soil pollution are:
- Industrial waste — Industrial waste containing chemicals, when dumped in soil, causes soil pollution. For example, fly ash from thermal plants, chemicals from oil refineries pollute the soil.
- Urban commercial and domestic waste — Non-biodegradable wastes like glass, plastic, polythene bags etc, either remain in the soil and take a long time to decompose.
(ii) Chemical fertilizers destroy the soil's natural balance. It makes the soil vulnerable to erosion, leaves it lacking in nutrients and starts a vicious cycle in which more fertilizers must be used to make up for nutrient depletion in soil. Also, the toxic chemicals may enter the food chain and lead to biomagnification.