India's Soil Health Crisis

The existing fertilizer subsidy system, which prioritizes urea, has disrupted the soil's nutrient balance by promoting excessive nitrogen use while under-supplying phosphorus and potassium.

According to the Fertiliser Statistics Report, the NPK-use ratio in 2021-22 stood at 7.7:3.1:1, significantly skewed towards nitrogen and far from the optimal 4:2:1 ratio. This overuse of nitrogen, coupled with inadequate micronutrient and organic manure application, depletes soil fertility over time and leads to nutrient runoff.

In the Indian context, soil health refers to the sustained capacity of soil to support agricultural productivity, maintain ecological balance, and ensure food security while preserving its physical, chemical, and biological properties. Given India's diverse agro-climatic conditions, soil health is influenced by factors such as organic matter content, nutrient availability, microbial activity, moisture retention, and resistance to degradation.

Foundation of Food Security and Crop Productivity

• Soil serves as the fundamental base for plant growth, directly influencing agricultural productivity.
• Indian soils, rich in fertility, sustain staple crops such as rice, wheat, and pulses, ensuring food security for the nation’s 1.4 billion population.
• Different soil types, like the alluvial soil in the Indo-Gangetic plains and the black soil in Maharashtra, support a variety of crops and cultivation practices.
• The FAO Report states that nearly 95% of the world's food production depends on soil, underlining its indispensable role in sustainable agriculture.
• In 2022-23, India's foodgrain output peaked at 329.7 million tonnes, while oilseed production reached an impressive 41.4 million tonnes.

Ensuring Nutrient Cycling and Soil Microbial Health

• Soil acts as a natural reservoir of essential nutrients, continuously recycling nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) to support plant growth.
• Beneficial microorganisms in the soil play a crucial role in breaking down organic matter, fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere, and maintaining soil fertility.
• India’s long-standing organic farming practices, such as vermiculture and the use of biofertilizers, rely on a well-nourished and balanced soil ecosystem.
• Without efficient nutrient cycling, soil fertility diminishes, leading to decreased agricultural productivity and increased dependence on synthetic fertilizers.

Water Retention and Drought Resilience

• Soil functions as a natural water regulator, managing infiltration, retention, and drainage to support stable plant growth.
• Higher organic matter content enhances the soil's capacity to retain moisture, minimizing irrigation needs and improving resilience against drought conditions.
• In dry and arid regions like Rajasthan and Bundelkhand, techniques such as mulching, cover cropping, and conservation tillage help maintain soil moisture.
• Well-structured soil prevents excessive water accumulation, reducing risks of waterlogging and root diseases, especially in regions experiencing heavy rainfall.

Climate Change Mitigation and Carbon Sequestration

• Soil plays an essential role in mitigating climate change by capturing and storing carbon, helping to balance atmospheric CO₂ levels.
• Carbon-rich soils act as stabilizers, buffering against temperature fluctuations and preventing land degradation and desertification.
• Agricultural practices such as agroforestry, no-till farming, and conservation agriculture enhance soil carbon sequestration, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• India’s agricultural lands have the technical capacity to sequester between 3 and 8 gigatons of CO₂ annually for the next 20 to 30 years, contributing significantly to climate stabilization.

Biodiversity Conservation and Pest Control

• Healthy soils foster a rich biodiversity of beneficial microbes, fungi, and insects that support natural pest regulation and soil fertility.
• Soil organisms like earthworms and mycorrhizal fungi enhance soil structure, improving aeration and increasing nutrient uptake for crops.
• Maintaining a balanced soil ecosystem decreases reliance on chemical pesticides, promoting cost-effective and sustainable farming practices.
• Studies indicate that agricultural fields with higher soil biodiversity experience fewer pest infestations compared to degraded soils.

Soil Degradation: Challenges and Sustainable Solutions

• Excessive use of chemical fertilizers, erosion, and soil salinity are major factors contributing to land degradation.
• The imbalance in the use of NPK fertilizers (7.7:3.1:1 instead of the recommended 4:2:1 ratio) is negatively impacting soil fertility.
• Government initiatives like the Soil Health Card Scheme aim to educate farmers on proper fertilizer application and long-term soil conservation.
• Sustainable agricultural techniques, such as crop rotation, green manure application, composting, and organic farming, improve soil health and productivity.

Economic Stability and Rural Livelihoods

• Soil fertility directly determines agricultural profitability, as nutrient-rich soils result in higher crop yields and better-quality produce.
• With nearly 66% of India’s workforce engaged in agriculture, soil health is a critical factor in rural economic stability.
• Maintaining fertile soil helps reduce farm input costs by minimizing the need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, thereby improving farmers’ income.
• Soil-based industries, including organic farming, compost production, and biofertilizer manufacturing, create employment opportunities in rural India.

Protecting Water Quality and Preventing Pollution

• Healthy soil acts as a natural filter, trapping and breaking down pollutants before they reach groundwater sources.
• The excessive use of chemical fertilizers has led to nitrate pollution, which contributes to water contamination and eutrophication in lakes and rivers.
• Integrated nutrient management practices, including balanced fertilizer use and organic amendments, help reduce soil and water pollution, ensuring environmental sustainability.

Natural Causes of Soil Degradation

• Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events
  • Erratic monsoons, rising temperatures, and extreme weather events like droughts and floods accelerate soil degradation.
  • Intense rainfall leads to topsoil runoff, depleting essential nutrients.
  • Rising temperatures contribute to soil carbon loss, impacting agricultural sustainability.
  • Due to climate change, high to very high soil erosion zones are projected to increase from 35.3% to 40.3% by the end of the century.
  • The 2023 Himachal Pradesh floods resulted in significant topsoil erosion in farmlands.
• Soil Erosion and Desertification
  • Deforestation, overgrazing, and poor water management in semi-arid regions accelerate soil erosion.
  • Unsustainable mining and industrial activities further strip topsoil, reducing land’s agricultural productivity.
  • According to the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India (SAC 2021), 97.85 million hectares (29.77% of India's land) are already degraded.

Anthropogenic (Human-Induced) Causes of Soil Degradation

• Unsustainable Agricultural Practices
  • Excessive use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and monocropping has degraded soil fertility and caused nutrient imbalances.
  • Intensive wheat-rice cycles in Punjab and Haryana, supported by MSP policies, have led to severe soil exhaustion.
  • Over-tillage and deep plowing destroy soil structure, reducing its water retention capacity.
  • The 2022 State of India’s Environment Report found that 30% of India's land faces degradation due to unsustainable agricultural activities.
• Over-Extraction and Salinization Due to Poor Irrigation Practices
  • Unscientific irrigation, including excessive groundwater extraction and flood irrigation, leads to soil salinity, alkalinity, and waterlogging.
  • In Punjab and Haryana, improper irrigation without drainage has caused secondary salinization.
  • Canal irrigation mismanagement results in waterlogging, reducing soil aeration and microbial activity.
  • India’s total groundwater extraction in 2022 was 239.16 bcm, with 87% used for agriculture.
  • 6.7 million hectares of salt-affected land cause an annual crop loss of ₹150.17 billion.
• Declining Organic Carbon and Soil Microbial Life
  • Soil organic carbon (SOC) is vital for fertility, but rapid depletion due to reduced organic matter incorporation has worsened soil health.
  • Crop residue burning in the Indo-Gangetic belt destroys organic matter instead of replenishing soil nutrients.
  • Over-reliance on synthetic fertilizers disrupts microbial ecosystems, leading to poor nutrient cycling.
  • Deforestation and urbanization further strip soil of organic content.
  • India's SOC content has declined from 1% to 0.3% in the last 70 years.
  • In Punjab, only 6.9% of soils had high organic carbon, and this percentage declined further in 2024-25.
• Pollution from Industrial and Urban Waste
  • Unregulated dumping of industrial effluents, heavy metals, and plastic waste has caused toxic soil contamination.
  • Untreated sewage sludge and landfill leachates in peri-urban areas degrade soil structure and introduce hazardous chemicals.
  • Groundwater pollution from landfills and industrial chemicals further affects soil quality.
  • Indian farmland is significantly contaminated with heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic.

Systemic Causes of Soil Degradation

• Lack of Effective Policy Implementation and Awareness
  • Despite initiatives like the Soil Health Card (SHC) program, adoption of sustainable practices remains low due to limited farmer awareness.
  • In 2024, India allocated one-ninth of its total agricultural budget to fertilizer subsidies, yet soil degradation persists.
  • Many farmers lack real-time soil quality data, leading to improper fertilizer application.
  • Urea subsidies encourage overuse, despite expert recommendations for balanced fertilizer use.
  • The NPK ratio in Indian soils is 7.7:3.1:1, which is highly unbalanced compared to the ideal 4:2:1 ratio.
• Loss of Traditional Agroecological Practices
  • Traditional farming methods like crop rotation, green manure, and agroforestry have been replaced by high-input, chemical-dependent agriculture.
  • Indigenous soil conservation techniques, such as Zaï pits in Rajasthan and Vermiculture in the Northeast, are being abandoned.
  • The marginalization of indigenous knowledge, especially among tribal and small farmers, reduces resilience to soil degradation.
• Impact of Genetically Modified (GM) Crops and High-Yield Varieties
  • The introduction of GM crops and high-yielding varieties (HYVs) has intensified nutrient depletion, as these crops demand higher fertilizer inputs.
  • Bt cotton cultivation has been linked to declining soil biodiversity in Maharashtra and Telangana.
  • The widespread adoption of HYVs has led to the loss of traditional, resilient crop varieties, which naturally maintain better soil structure.

Promoting Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) for Balanced Fertilization

• Shift from excessive chemical fertilizers to Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) by incorporating organic manure, biofertilizers, and minimal synthetic inputs.
• Promote Nano Urea and organic alternatives to reduce fertilizer overuse.
• Link Soil Health Cards (SHC) and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) to boost biofertilizer adoption.
• Establish large-scale composting units in rural areas to increase soil organic carbon.

Strengthening Soil Biodiversity and Microbial Rejuvenation

• Enhance microbial diversity using bioinoculants, vermiculture, and mycorrhizal fungi to improve soil fertility.
• Encourage Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) (livestock + cropping + fish farming) for natural nutrient cycling.
• Promote Pusa Bio-Decomposer (IARI innovation) for efficient organic residue recycling.
• Implement natural farming techniques like Fukuoka’s method to restore soil health.

Expanding Agroforestry and Perennial Crop Systems

• Promote National Agroforestry Policy (NAP) to enhance soil carbon, prevent erosion, and improve farm income.
• Scale up alley-cropping with millet and legumes to rejuvenate degraded lands.
• Link MGNREGA with soil conservation and afforestation programs.
• Expand successful agroforestry models from Karnataka and Odisha to other states.

Encouraging Zero-Tillage and Conservation Agriculture

• Zero-tillage farming reduces erosion, enhances microbial activity, and conserves soil moisture.
• Promote Happy Seeder technology in Punjab and Haryana to prevent stubble burning and enrich soil.
• Expand Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) method to reduce groundwater usage and preserve soil structure.
• Conservation agriculture under NMSA should be scaled up in semi-arid regions.
• Adapt Brazil’s no-till soybean farming model to Indian pulses and cereals.

Restoring Degraded Lands Through Agroecological Approaches

• Implement agroecology-based restoration to improve soil structure and fertility.
• Encourage intercropping and crop rotation with nitrogen-fixing plants (pulses, legumes) to replenish nutrients.
• Revive traditional techniques like Zaï pits in Rajasthan to reverse soil erosion.
• Integrate these approaches into Watershed Development Component (WDC-PMKSY) under PMKSY.

Implementing Controlled Irrigation and Preventing Salinization

• Reduce soil salinity and waterlogging by shifting to drip and sprinkler irrigation.
• Promote micro-irrigation under PMKSY to conserve soil moisture and prevent erosion.
• Implement rainwater harvesting and surface water irrigation to reduce groundwater dependence.
• Introduce salt-tolerant crop varieties (e.g., in coastal Gujarat) to restore degraded lands.

Combating Soil Erosion Through Terracing and Grassland Regeneration

• Introduce terracing, check dams, and vegetative barriers in hilly and semi-arid regions to prevent topsoil loss.
• Encourage community-led watershed management, inspired by Ralegan Siddhi (Maharashtra).
• Expand grassland restoration projects, such as Gujarat’s Banni Grasslands model.
• Utilize CAMPA funds for soil conservation to restore degraded land.

Strengthening Policy Implementation and Farmer Awareness

• Enhance capacity-building programs through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
• Link Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme with Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to ensure customized fertilizer recommendations.
• Strengthen policy initiatives under National Project on Soil Health and Fertility (a sub-scheme of NMSA).

Preventing Industrial and Urban Soil Pollution

• Implement strict soil quality monitoring under CPCB guidelines to prevent heavy metal accumulation.
• Promote phytoremediation (using plants to absorb toxins) in peri-urban areas.
• Adopt biochar projects (like in Tamil Nadu) and waste-based agriculture (East Kolkata Wetlands) to restore urban soils.
• Integrate Smart Cities Mission with urban soil conservation projects.

Encouraging Farmers to Adopt Regenerative and Natural Farming

• Scale up Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) and permaculture to restore soil fertility with minimal external inputs.
• Use Andhra Pradesh’s regenerative farming model as a scalable example.
• Encourage cover cropping and mulching to improve soil structure and retain nutrients.
• Expand policy incentives under the National Mission for Organic Farming (NMOF).

Read This Article Here: Soil Degradation

India's soil health crisis endangers agriculture, food security, and rural livelihoods. A shift to balanced nutrient management, organic enrichment, and climate-resilient practices is essential. Policy reforms and farmer awareness, supported by technology like Soil Health Cards, can drive sustainable soil management.

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