Importance of soil for ensuring food security

29 Apr Importance of soil for ensuring food security

THIS ARTICLE COVERS ‘DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS’ AND THE TOPIC DETAILS OF ”Importance of soil for ensuring food security ”. THIS TOPIC IS RELEVANT IN THE “Agriculture” SECTION OF THE UPSC CSE EXAM.

Why in the news?

The exponential growth of the human population has undeniably exerted immense pressure on the Earth’s ecosystems, leading to significant biodiversity loss. Over the span of just a few centuries, humanity has witnessed a staggering increase in population numbers, from one billion in 1804 to over eight billion today.

This rapid population growth has necessitated extensive agricultural expansion to meet the escalating demands for food production. To prevent mass famines and starvation, vast tracts of land have been cleared for farming, often at the expense of precious forest habitats. Unfortunately, this race to feed a burgeoning population has resulted in the loss of numerous species and genetic diversity.

Even with traditional and organic farming methods, it would have been impossible to sustainably support such a vast population. As Norman Borlaug, renowned as the father of the Green Revolution, aptly observed, the Earth’s carrying capacity for human inhabitants is limited. Without scientific advancements in agriculture, the prospect of widespread starvation would have been a stark reality.

In essence, while human ingenuity and technological innovations have averted immediate food crises, they have also underscored the urgent need for sustainable agricultural practices and conservation efforts to safeguard the planet’s biodiversity for future generations.

The Detrimental impact of fertilizers overuse

The detrimental impact of inappropriate policies on our planet remains a pressing concern, particularly evident in the agricultural sector. One glaring example is the heavy subsidization of chemical fertilizers, particularly urea, which has resulted in imbalanced nutrient use and significant soil degradation.

This skewed approach to nitrogen (N), phosphate (P), and potash (K) usage has left Indian soils severely depleted, craving organic carbon for sustenance. Renowned soil scientist Rattan Lal emphasizes that the optimal level of soil organic carbon (SOC) should ideally range between 1.5 to 2 percent. However, the harsh reality is that more than 60 percent of Indian soils possess SOC levels below 0.5 percent, indicating a critical state of soil health akin to an intensive care unit (ICU).

Despite these alarming indicators, policymakers have largely overlooked the urgent need for policy reform in agricultural subsidies. Mere rhetoric surrounding “prakritik kheti” or natural farming fails to address the root causes of soil degradation. What is imperative is a strategic shift in policy, particularly concerning chemical fertilizer subsidies.

A straightforward redirection from heavily subsidizing N, P, and K prices towards direct income transfers to farmers, coupled with market-driven pricing of these essential nutrients, holds promise for reversing soil degradation trends. However, such a transition necessitates meticulous groundwork, including comprehensive land records, crop monitoring systems, and irrigation infrastructure assessments.

Impact of intensive agriculture on soil degradation 

Agriculture plays a significant role in soil degradation in India due to various practices and factors associated with farming activities. Here are some ways agriculture impacts soil degradation in the country:

1. Soil Erosion: Intensive tillage practices, such as plowing and land preparation, contribute to soil erosion by exposing the soil to wind and water erosion. Additionally, monoculture cropping and continuous cultivation without adequate soil conservation measures lead to the depletion of soil organic matter and soil structure, making it more susceptible to erosion.
2. Soil Compaction: Heavy machinery used in modern agriculture, such as tractors and harvesters, can cause soil compaction, particularly in mechanized farming systems. Soil compaction reduces soil porosity, restricts root growth, and impairs water infiltration and drainage, leading to reduced soil fertility and productivity.
3. Chemical Inputs: Excessive use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides in agriculture can degrade soil quality and fertility over time. Chemical fertilizers, if not applied judiciously, can lead to soil acidification, nutrient imbalances, and soil salinity. Pesticides and herbicides may accumulate in the soil, disrupting soil microbial communities and beneficial organisms.
4. Soil Salinization and Alkalization: Poor irrigation practices, such as over-irrigation and inadequate drainage, can lead to waterlogging and salinization of soils in irrigated areas. Salinization occurs when salts accumulate in the soil profile, inhibiting plant growth and reducing crop yields. Alkalization, characterized by an increase in soil pH, can also occur in arid and semi-arid regions due to the accumulation of soluble salts.
5. Deforestation and Land Conversion: Clearing forests and converting natural ecosystems for agriculture leads to soil degradation by exposing the soil to erosion, nutrient depletion, and loss of soil organic matter. Deforestation disrupts the soil ecosystem and reduces biodiversity, making the soil more vulnerable to degradation processes.
6. Overgrazing: Grazing pressure from livestock can degrade soil quality by trampling vegetation, compacting soil, and accelerating erosion. Overgrazing reduces ground cover, increases soil exposure to erosion agents, and disrupts nutrient cycling processes, leading to soil degradation in grazing lands.
7. Loss of Soil Biodiversity: Intensive agriculture practices, such as monocropping and chemical inputs, can reduce soil biodiversity by negatively impacting soil microbial communities, earthworm populations, and beneficial organisms essential for soil health and fertility.

Other factors for soil degradation

• Deforestation and Land Conversion: Clearing forests for agriculture, urbanization, and industrial development leads to soil erosion and loss of soil fertility. Deforestation disrupts the natural ecosystem and exposes the soil to erosion by wind and water.

• Unsustainable Agricultural Practices: Intensive farming methods, such as excessive use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation, contribute to soil degradation. These practices often lead to soil salinity, alkalinity, and acidity, reducing soil fertility and productivity over time.

• Soil Erosion: Soil erosion occurs due to water runoff, wind, and human activities like overgrazing and deforestation. This process removes the topsoil layer, which is rich in nutrients, organic matter, and microorganisms essential for plant growth.

• Waterlogging and Salinization: Poorly managed irrigation systems, coupled with excessive groundwater extraction, can lead to waterlogging and salinization of soils, particularly in areas with high groundwater tables. Salinization occurs when soluble salts accumulate in the soil, rendering it unsuitable for agriculture.

• Industrial Pollution: Industrial activities, including mining, chemical manufacturing, and waste disposal, can contaminated soils with heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and industrial pollutants. These pollutants degrade soil quality and pose risks to human health and the environment.

• Urbanization and Construction Activities: Urban expansion and construction projects often involve land excavation, soil compaction, and soil sealing, leading to loss of arable land, soil compaction, and reduced soil permeability.

• Climate Change: Climate change exacerbates soil degradation through extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and cyclones. These events intensify soil erosion, alter soil moisture levels, and disrupt soil microbial communities, impacting soil health and productivity.

• Overexploitation of Natural Resources: Unsustainable extraction of natural resources such as sand, gravel, and minerals destabilizes soil structure, alters hydrological cycles, and accelerates erosion processes.

What can be done?

1. Conservation Tillage: Adopting conservation tillage practices, such as no-till or reduced tillage, minimizes soil disturbance and maintains crop residues on the soil surface. This helps to protect the soil from erosion by wind and water, while also improving soil structure and organic matter content.
2. Cover Crops: Planting cover crops, such as legumes or grasses, during fallow periods or between cash crops, helps to provide soil cover and reduce erosion. Cover crops help to stabilize soil, enhance soil structure, and prevent nutrient leaching.
3. Crop Rotation: Implementing crop rotation systems helps to diversify cropping patterns and reduce soil erosion. Rotating crops with different root structures and growth habits can help to break disease cycles, improve soil health, and minimize erosion risk.
4. Contour Farming: Adopting contour farming practices involves planting crops along the contour lines of the land to minimize water runoff and soil erosion. Terracing, bunding, and constructing grass waterways are also effective techniques to reduce erosion on sloping terrain.
5. Agroforestry: Integrating trees or shrubs into agricultural landscapes through agroforestry systems helps to stabilize soil, reduce water runoff, and enhance biodiversity. Agroforestry practices such as alley cropping and windbreaks provide additional benefits such as shade, habitat for beneficial organisms, and supplemental income for farmers.
6. Buffer Strips: Establishing vegetative buffer strips along water bodies, field margins, and erosion-prone areas helps to trap sediment, filter runoff, and prevent soil erosion. These buffer strips can consist of grasses, shrubs, or trees depending on the site conditions.
7. Soil Conservation Structures: Installing soil conservation structures such as check dams, contour bunds, and retention ponds helps to control water runoff, reduce soil erosion, and promote groundwater recharge. These structures are particularly effective in areas prone to flash floods and soil erosion.
8. Education and Extension: Providing farmers with training, education, and extension services on soil conservation practices and sustainable land management techniques is essential for promoting adoption and implementation. Farmer field schools, demonstration plots, and farmer-to-farmer learning networks can facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building.

Download plutus ias current affairs eng med 29th April 2024

Ankit Kumar

Hello friends, I am Ankit Kumar here at Plutus Ias to provide you with some really insightful content that will help you prepare for UPSC. Here is a brief introduction about me
I have written 2023 mains examination, UGC net JRF qualified and worked in several UPSC coachings as PSIR and current affairs mentor and faculty. Apart from this, I am also a student like you and a lifelong learner working in this profession, which I love.