Soil health is in focus due to rising concerns over land degradation and sustainable agriculture.
Introduction
India's agricultural sustainability is at risk due to severe soil degradation, characterized by nutrient imbalance, reduced organic matter, and environmental damage. This crisis stems from over-reliance on chemical fertilizers, unsustainable farming practices, and environmental stressors. Systemic reforms and sustainable management practices are essential to ensure long-term agricultural productivity and ecological health.
Current Status of Soil Degradation in India
Extent of Land Degradation:
India faces degradation of 97.85 million hectares, covering 29.77% of its geographical area (SAC 2021).
Semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions, such as Rajasthan and Maharashtra, are most affected.
Severity and Trends:
Rajasthan reports over 21 million hectares of degraded land due to wind erosion.
Desertification has increased, with 83.69 million hectares classified as drylands, reflecting a net rise since 2003-05.
Regional Variations:
Himachal Pradesh suffers from topsoil erosion due to extreme weather, while Punjab faces salinization due to over-irrigation.
Environmental Impact:
Climate change-induced erratic rainfall and floods exacerbate soil degradation.
Areas with high erosion rates are predicted to increase to 40.3% by the century’s end.
Overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides depletes nutrients and increases soil acidification.
Monocropping practices, particularly in Punjab and Haryana, lead to declining organic carbon levels.
Organochlorine insecticides (e.g., DDT) constitute over 70% of pesticide usage, harming soil microbiota.
2. Deforestation and Urbanization:
Loss of tree cover (95% in natural forests between 2013-2023) reduces water retention.
Western Ghats lost 5% of evergreen forest cover, affecting soil fertility.
3. Water Mismanagement:
Over-irrigation leads to waterlogging and salinization, with 6.74 million hectares salt-affected.
Punjab experiences 50% land degradation due to salinization.
4. Industrial Pollution and Mining:
Mining-intensive states like Odisha suffer from toxic contamination, rendering land unproductive.
Discharge of heavy metals and chemicals worsens soil quality.
5. Shifting Cultivation and Slash-and-Burn Practices:
Northeastern states face significant soil erosion due to traditional jhuming cycles.
Over 62% of shifting cultivation hotspots are concentrated in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Mizoram.
Why Current Initiatives Are Partially Effective
1. Fragmented Policy Framework:
Schemes like Soil Health Card operate in silos, lacking integration with irrigation and restoration programs.
2. Generic Approaches:
Policies fail to address regional challenges like Rajasthan’s desertification or Gujarat’s salinity.
3. Implementation Gaps:
Only 33% of farmers utilize soil health recommendations due to inadequate outreach.
4. Limited Research Application:
Innovations like biochar remain underutilized, with minimal support for field-level adoption.
5. Weak Monitoring Mechanisms:
Lack of real-time accountability dilutes the impact of flagship initiatives.
Measures for Effective Soil Health Management
1. Sustainable Farming Practices:
Promote crop rotation, agroforestry, and organic farming to improve soil health.
Expand the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana with farmer-centric training programs.
2. Water Management Techniques:
Scale up micro-irrigation systems to reduce salinization and waterlogging.
Integrate PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana with precision agriculture for optimal resource use.
3. Conservation Agriculture:
Encourage zero tillage, mulching, and cover cropping to enhance soil structure.
Extend Happy Seeder technology from Punjab to other high-yield zones.
4. Rehabilitation of Degraded Lands:
Afforestation and grassland restoration, like Banni Grassland projects, can reduce erosion.
Integrate National Afforestation Programme with MGNREGA for dual ecological and social benefits.
5. Integrated Nutrient Management:
Revise Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) to include organic and bio-fertilizers.
Ensure balanced nutrient application by linking Soil Health Card data with farmer advisory services.
Conclusion
Restoring India's soil health is a critical priority to ensure sustainable agriculture, food security, and ecological stability. A multi-pronged approach that integrates sustainable practices, robust policies, and technological innovations can transform soil conservation efforts. Collaborative efforts between governments, farmers, and research institutions are essential for achieving long-term agricultural resilience.
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