Current state of agricultural environmental pollution and herbaceous plants used in controlling pollution in China

The development of modern agriculture with characteristically high input, output, and emissions in China has created considerable economic benefits since the Reform and Opening; however, it has also created numerous environmental problems. In this study, we analyzed the status of environmental pollution caused by fertilizers, pesticides, and farming waste. The results indicated there was an annual increase in the use of fertilizers and pesticides in China. Specifically, the quantity of chemical fertilizer being used increased by 578.3% in 2014 compared with that in 1978. In addition, the use of fertilizers on units of arable land also increased by 391.78% in 2013 compared with that in 1980. Moreover, the amount of pesticides used in 2012 increased 1.5 times compared with the amounts used in 1978. At the same time, farming waste discharged has increased annually with the rapid development of aquaculture. This present study was focused on herbaceous plant species that have the potential to be used to control agricultural pollution. We analyzed their grass ecological mode including ecological ditches, grass buffer strips, and artificial wetlands to control agricultural non-point pollution. We proposed that the selection of the principle of grasses in pollution control would be a good strategy, and suggested that building a cycle agricultural mode for controlling non-point pollution would be expedient. The main aim of this study was to provide a scientific basis for agricultural non-point pollution.