Protecting Soil Health: A Key to Combating Climate Change and Ensuring Sustainable Ecosystems, Part two
icare Sustainably International
Icare sustainably international is a nonprofit organization working in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and Asia.
Let’s recap…One key insight from the article is the critical role that soil health plays in mitigating climate change. Healthy soils act as carbon sinks, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sustain ecosystem functions.
Essential Points:
Healthy soil is vital for carbon storage, which helps regulate atmospheric CO2 levels. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is key to ecosystem functioning and nutrient availability.Unsustainable farming practices can release stored carbon back into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change. Agricultural activities are responsible for a substantial portion of greenhouse gas emissions, including nitrous oxide.Climate change adversely affects soil fertility, with variations in temperature and moisture impacting soil health. This creates a cyclical challenge, where poor soil health contributes to climate change, and vice versa.There's a pressing need for actionable recommendations to protect soil health, emphasizing the importance of sustainable land management and the balance between agricultural productivity and environmental health.
Future discussions must focus on the interplay between agricultural research, policy, and stakeholder engagement to create effective strategies for soil health.Maintaining the chemical quality of soil—such as minimizing pesticide residues and nutrient deficiencies—is crucial for slowing soil degradation.
Remember the two statements below? Just a reminder to help you prepare to read the article.
There is currently a lack of comprehensive knowledge and action-oriented recommendations to preserve soil health despite this crucial ecological, economic, and social function. Significant issues face all industrial sectors today, including climate change, land exploitation, and contentious debates regarding sustainable land management.The maintenance of soil health is contingent upon the interplay between agricultural research, policy, stakeholder demands, and sustainable supply chain management. This is because healthy soil is necessary for the soil to continue functioning as a living, breathing ecosystem that supports all living species. While crop productivity has been the primary focus of soil health research, it also affects water quality, human health, and the rate of climate change. Nevertheless, despite the increased recognition of the significance of soil biodiversity, chemical indicators continue to dominate the quantification of soil health (Radulov and Berbecea, 2023).Since the soil's organic carbon content is one of the most crucial factors in determining a person's overall health, preserving the chemical health of the soil—particularly by minimizing nutrient deficiencies and the buildup of pesticide residues in the soil—as well as sequestering carbon can help slow down the increasing degradation of soils brought on by climate change (Akpan and Olanrewaju, 2023).
How to Maintain and Improve Soil’s Quality: Managing soil chemical health to reduce the impact of climate change
Let’s get into the challenges soil’s health encounter
Soil’s importance to plants
An essential component of the natural cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur is soil. As part of the nitrogen cycle, rainwater's nitrate and ammonium ions are held in the soil, where they are then taken up by microbes and plant roots, converting them into amino acids or molecular nitrogen N2 and nitrous oxide N2O, which are subsequently released into the atmosphere (Andreadakis and Owusu-Wiredu, 2023).?Hence we need to protect soil’s health for plant’s growth and development; protecting soil’s nutrients is protecting soil’s health. Agroecosystems use nutrients, light, CO2, and water to create proteins, carbohydrates, and starch through metabolic processes (Radulov and Berbecea, 2023).
The variables impacting soil’s nutrients
Numerous researchers' studies have demonstrated that the primary variables that could alter nutrition availability and demand are rising CO2, rising temperatures, and water stress (Schlubach, 2023).The availability and cycling of nutrients on a yearly and seasonal basis may change due to climate change; A complex situation that affects the microbial activity of the soil and, consequently, the availability of nutrients to the plant is created by climate change-related variations (in temperature or precipitation), soil property modifications, and nutrient distribution (Radulov and Berbecea, 2023).
Since climate influences affect all stages of plant growth, including development, metabolism, physiology, and production, the impact of climate change on plant nutrition is extremely complex. Uneven application of fertilizers,the addition of unnecessary fertilizers and the uneven absorption of nutrients result in nutrient imbalances in the soil because these processes fail to account for the plant's unique nutrient intake during a particular stage of its life.The administration of solely primary nutrients (particularly N and P), with total reliance on soil nutrient stores for other nutrients, resulted in an increase in the soil's multi-nutrient shortage (Akpan and Olanrewaju, 2023).
Soil Reactions
Soil reaction directly affects the health of the soil. While abrupt variations in soil reaction damage the soil's chemical health, neutral pH values are good for most crops and diverse soil qualities. Changes in soil response are caused by the following environmental factors: - meteorological elements that contribute to soil erosion and alkalization, particularly temperature and rainfall; - weather conditions that exacerbate the modification of parent soil materials; - topographical elements, like the land's topography and the existence or lack of plants on the soil's surface (Damtew, 2023).- Large changes in pH, including a pH below 4.5 or over 8.3, are not supported by most cultivated plants. In neutral (pH = 6.8–7.2) or slightly acidic (pH = 6.3–6.8) soils, most plants thrive well. Plants generally do better in acidic environments than in alkaline ones (Gedefaw, 2023). The initial stages of the vegetative period, particularly the seedling stage, are when the largest sensitivity to acidity, or alkalinity, is manifested.
In general, under conditions of water and nutrient stress, plants become more sensitive to severe pH levels (Radulov and Berbecea, 2023). Note, because of the soil's ability to act as a buffer, changes in soil pH brought on by human activity occur gradually.
Soil’s Physical Health
The phenomenon of erosion or compaction, which indicates the physical health of soils, can be attributed to two main factors: either the intensification of meteorological factors (precipitation and wind), the aerobic-anaerobic cycles of soil moisture, or human activities like intensive grain-based cropping systems (rice-wheat cropping system), increased soil work intensity, or decreased soil organic matter content due to lack of vegetation and non-application of organic fertilizers (Akpan and Olanrewaju, 2023).?
Soil Erosion
Soil erosion is influenced by several key factors (understanding these factors is crucial for the implementation of effective soil conservation strategies:
1. Climate- Rainfall intensity, duration, and frequency impact runoff and erosion rates. Temperature and humidity influence soil moisture and vegetation growth
2. Soil Characteristics- Soil texture, structure, and organic matter content affect its susceptibility to erosion. Sandy soils tend to erode more easily than clayey soils.
3. Vegetation Cover- Dense plant cover protects soil by reducing raindrop impact and stabilizing it with roots. Loss of vegetation, due to deforestation or agriculture, increases erosion risk.
4. Topography- Steep slopes accelerate water runoff, leading to increased erosion compared to flatter areas.
5. Human Activities/ Land Use Practices- Agricultural methods, construction/ urban development, poor land management deforestation, and mining can disturb soil and reduce its protective cover, heightening erosion risk.
6. Wind- In arid regions, strong winds can lift and carry away loose soil particles, contributing to erosion.
Subsets of soil erosion- water erosion and wind erosion
The following variables affect the degree of water erosion: soil erodibility, slope and length, rainfall characteristics (intensity, distribution, and frequency), agriculture techniques, and erosion control measures.Strong winds can cause erosion, which is most noticeable on dry, loose soils that are not covered with plants. These circumstances are primarily present in dry regions, where inadequate land management has increased erosion. The loss of topsoil, which is made up of biologically active soil particles rich in organic matter and nutrients, as a result of wind erosion has an impact on the soil's ability to retain water, its chemical fertility, and its biological activity (Andreadakis and Owusu-Wiredu, 2023).?
Soil Compaction
Pressure applied to the soil surface causes compaction, which alters the permeability and porosity of the soil. The obstruction of the pores prevents gases and water from circulating through the soil, resulting in a lower concentration of both water and oxygen. Root development is hindered. Much more quickly than soil creation can replenish it, erosion takes away soil; Lower productivity is the outcome of decreased fertility brought on by the erosion of the surface layer (Schlubach, 2023).Soil compaction not only leads to erosion but eventually landslides as well. Compaction increases the rate at which spreading occurs on sloping surfaces by decreasing the extent of infiltration. The upper layer of the soil will be heavier and more susceptible to water saturation due to the presence of a layer with low permeability, increasing the danger of landslides. Organic matter improves the soil's structure and lessens the likelihood of compaction, erosion, and landslides (Gedefaw, 2023).
Soil compaction leads to several degradation processes that can significantly affect soil fertility, productivity, and overall ecosystem health:
1. Reduced Aeration- Compacted soil restricts air movement, leading to low oxygen levels that can hinder root growth and reduce microbial activity
.2. Decreased Water Infiltration- Compaction creates a dense layer that impedes water movement, increasing surface runoff and the risk of erosion while reducing groundwater recharge.
3. Impaired Root Growth- Dense soil makes it difficult for roots to penetrate, limiting plant growth and reducing overall vegetation cover.
4. Nutrient Availability- Compaction can affect the movement of nutrients, making them less available to plants and potentially leading to nutrient deficiencies.
5. Altered Soil Structure- Compacted soil can lose its natural structure, leading to a more homogeneous and less productive soil profile.
6. Increased Surface Runoff- With poor infiltration, more water runs off the surface, which can lead to erosion and loss of topsoil.
7. Diminished Soil Microbial Activity- Compaction can negatively affect the community of beneficial soil microorganisms, reducing decomposition and nutrient cycling.?
Conclusion
In conclusion, soil health is vital for sustainable plant growth and ecosystem functionality. Healthy soils play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by lowering greenhouse gas emissions and maintaining carbon content.Various challenges, including climate change, uneven fertilizer application, soil reactions, and soil degradation processes threaten soil quality. Soil degradation, driven by practices such as intensive tillage, monoculture, and chemical use, releases carbon into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate issues. Unsustainable agricultural and forestry practices contribute to soil health decline, impacting microbial activity and nutrient availability, while increasing global food demand puts additional pressure on land management.
Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive understanding of the factors affecting soil health and the implementation of effective management practices. By prioritizing soil conservation and nutrient management, we can enhance soil resilience, support agricultural productivity, and ensure the long-term health of our ecosystems.
To combat these challenges, sustainable soil management is essential. This includes strategies like crop rotation, minimizing fertilizer use, maintaining vegetation cover, and incorporating organic matter. By adopting these practices, we can enhance soil quality, promote resilience against extreme weather events, and support climate neutrality efforts.
The Soil Health Challenge
You are a farmer managing a small plot of land. You have three critical elements to balance for optimal soil health:
1. Organic Matter (OM)
2. Nutrients (N)
3. Microbial Activity (MA)
However, you can only focus on one element at a time. The challenge is that: If you prioritize Organic Matter for too long without adding Nutrients, the soil will become nutrient-deficient, harming plant growth.? If you focus too much on Nutrients without enhancing Microbial Activity, your soil will lose its biological diversity and resilience.?
If you concentrate only on Microbial Activity without maintaining Organic Matter, the soil will degrade and lose its structure.?
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Your Goal:
Get all three elements balanced without causing degradation.Steps to Solve the Puzzle:
1. Start with one element and outline a plan to maintain it.
2. After a certain period (or condition), switch focus to the next element while ensuring the others are not negatively impacted.
3. Aim to establish a sustainable balance among all three elements.
What is your strategy to achieve this balance?
Answer:
Here’s a possible strategy to balance the three critical elements for soil health:
1. Start with Organic Matter (OM)- Begin by adding organic materials (like compost) to enhance soil structure and water retention. Focus on building up OM for a few weeks.
2. Introduce Nutrients (N)- After establishing a good level of OM, introduce balanced fertilizers, ensuring you don’t neglect the microbial community. Use organic fertilizers to add nutrients while also benefiting microbial activity.
3. Enhance Microbial Activity (MA)- Once nutrients are in place, focus on practices that promote microbial activity, such as cover cropping and reducing tillage.
These methods will help maintain both OM and nutrient levels. Regularly cycle through these steps, every season, ensure you’re addressing all three elements. You maintain a balanced soil ecosystem, preventing degradation and enhancing overall soil health.
About the Author
Mr. Riyadh Mohammed is a Lead Consultant at Tropical Agriculture Consultancy Services- RKTAP Ltd.
- Co Owner of Exotic Pets Plus Veterinary Clinic (EPP)
- ISO TC 323 Committee Consultant- Circular Economy
- National Agriculture Advisor for Couva Tabaquite Talparo Regional Corporation (CTTRC)
- Founder and President of Real Agriculture TT Farmers Group (RA)
- Agriculture Lecturer of Three R’s Learning Center (UMASS)
- Agriculture Lecturer in the Tobago Hospitality & Tourism Institute (THTI)
#foodsecurity #Fao #climatechange #Worldfoodprogram #Wikifarmer.
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Master's Candidate| Environmental sustainability advocate | Environmental health enthusiast | BSc Applied Microbiology
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