What type of pollution is specifically associated with runoff from agricultural lands?

Non-point source pollution is specifically associated with runoff from agricultural lands because it originates from diffuse sources rather than a single, identifiable location. In the context of agriculture, this pollution occurs when rainwater or irrigation water carries fertilizers, pesticides, and sediment from fields into nearby water bodies. This runoff can lead to nutrient pollution, which can cause harmful algal blooms and negatively impact aquatic ecosystems.

Point source pollution, on the other hand, comes from a single, discrete source such as a discharge pipe from a factory. Thermal pollution relates to temperature increases in water bodies, often due to industrial processes or urban runoff, and plastic pollution refers to the accumulation of plastic waste in aquatic environments. None of these directly involve the multi-faceted, widespread nature of runoff from agricultural areas like non-point source pollution does.