The key characteristic of agricultural land is its fertility. It consists of different components (chemical composition, moisture content, insolation level, etc.), but in the end only the general characteristic matters. Unfortunately, modern farming practices are such that they inevitably lead to soil degradation. Land degradation is the process when soil quality deteriorates, occurring due to improper land use, agriculture and grazing, urban or industrial uses. The process is associated with the deterioration of the physical, biological and chemical condition of the planet’s cover. The article deals with the problem of land cover pollution. Characterization of the main types of anthropogenic impact on agricultural soils and methods of protection against them are provided.