As You Sow, So Shall You Reap

If I ask, "What is the biggest necessity of life?"

You might think of essentials like food, air, or water. While these are crucial, there's an even more fundamental necessity that often goes unnoticed: soil.

Why soil? Let's explore this.

Soil does much more than anchor plant roots and supply nutrients. It is a vibrant ecosystem that supports countless microorganisms. Soil is our life support system. We build on it, we grow our food in it, and it plays a crucial role in our survival.

?Let's think where does our food come from? It's not McDonald's, Domino's, or any other retail store. The true source of our food is the soil. Without healthy soil, we wouldn't have the fruits, vegetables, grains, and livestock that nourish us.

?So, while air, water, and food are vital, it's the soil that sustains the very foundation of our food system and, ultimately, our lives.

Most Valuable But Ignored!! - Let's take a closer look at soil...

Soil is a natural body comprised of solids (minerals and organic matter), liquids, and gases that occur on the land surface, occupying space and characterized by horizons, or layers, that are distinguishable from the initial material due to additions, losses, transfers, and transformations of energy and matter. Additionally, soil has the unique ability to support rooted plants in a natural environment.

The upper limit of soil is the boundary between soil and air, shallow water, live plants, or plant materials that have not begun to decompose. Defining the lower boundary that separates soil from the nonsoil beneath it is more challenging.

Soil plays a vital role in the Earth's ecosystem, making human life possible. It provides plants with a foothold for their roots and the necessary nutrients for growth. Soil filters rainwater and regulates the discharge of excess rainwater, preventing flooding. It also buffers against pollutants, protecting groundwater quality.

One of the most crucial roles of soil is its capacity to store large amounts of organic carbon, making it the largest terrestrial store of carbon.         

On average, soil contains about three times more organic carbon than vegetation and about twice as much carbon as is present in the atmosphere. This is particularly significant in efforts to mitigate climate change, as carbon can be sequestered in the soil, helping to re-balance the global carbon budget.

Understanding and appreciating the value of soil is essential for sustaining life on Earth and combating climate change. Without healthy soil, the foundation of our ecosystems and food systems would be at risk, making it one of the most valuable, yet often overlooked, necessities of life.

What is soil degradation?

Soil degradation is the decline in soil's physical, chemical, and biological quality. This deterioration can occur due to various factors, including pollution and poor farm management.

Key contributors to soil degradation include extractive agricultural practices, excessive use of chemicals and fertilizers, and poor irrigation management.

The impacts of soil degradation manifest in several ways:

• Erosion: Water and wind erosion stripped away the topsoil, which is rich in nutrients and organic matter.
• Salinization: Poor irrigation practices can lead to a rise in soil salinity, making it less fertile.
• Fertility Decline: Continuous use of chemical fertilizers can deplete essential nutrients and disrupt the natural soil structure.
• Acidity Changes: Overuse of certain fertilizers can alter the soil's pH, affecting its ability to support plant life.

Soil degradation poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity and environmental health. Addressing these issues requires sustainable land management practices that preserve and enhance soil quality.

What does healthy soil have?

Healthy soil contains three major nutrients essential for agriculture: phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen. Each of these nutrients plays a critical role in plant growth and development:

• Nitrogen (N): Vital for the growth of leaves and overall plant development.
• Phosphorus (P): Important for root development and energy transfer within the plant.
• Potassium (K): Crucial for water regulation, disease resistance, and overall plant health.

Traditionally, Indian soils have low nitrogen and phosphorus content but are rich in potassium. According to the 2019-20 Soil Health Survey, a significant portion of Indian soil shows nutrient deficiencies:

- Nitrogen: 55% of soil is deficient.

- Phosphorus: 42% of soil is deficient.

- Organic Carbon: 44% of soil is deficient.

Let's refer a eye-opening research of "ISRO".

A report by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has highlighted an alarming trend: millions of hectares of land have been degraded over the last couple of decades. This widespread degradation is a critical issue that affects us all and cannot be ignored.

Indian Space Research Organisation, or ISRO, data shows that almost all Indian states witnessed a rise in degraded land over the past 15 years. ISRO’s Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas published in June 2021 too says that 30% of India’s geographical area is degraded. Of this, 3.32 million hectares were added between 2003 and 2019 alone. The North-East recorded the most rapid percentage rise in degraded soil. Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, and Karnataka recorded the highest areas of degrading land. Alarmingly, in Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Delhi, Gujarat, and Goa, the area of degrading land accounts for more than 50% of the states’ total area.

An analysis of ISRO data by environmental magazine ‘Down to Earth’ showed that more than half of the degraded land in India is either rainfed farmland, responsible for food security, or forestland that must be preserved if we are to fight off climate change. The analysis showed that water erosion was the most common reason, 80%, for degradation of unirrigated farmland.        

Status of Land Degradation in India

• With close to 30 percent of its geographical area already affected, land degradation is definitely among India’s most pressing environmental problems.
• Currently, almost 100 million hectares of land have already been degraded and of this, 3 million hectares have been added in the 15 years between 2004 and 2019.
• After unirrigated farmland, forests remain the most vulnerable to degradation. This is surprising as the common belief is that afforestation drives are the surest solution to land degradation.
• Vegetation degradation is referred to as a reduction in the biomass and/or decline in the vegetative ground cover, as a result of deforestation and/or overgrazing. Such degradation is a major contributory factor to soil degradation, particularly with regard to soil erosion and loss of soil organic matter.

What are the causes of soil degradation?

Experts believe that poor practices are responsible for the situation. These include imbalanced fertilization, excessive tillage, crop residue burning, poor water management, pesticide overuse, and soil pollution. Overgrazing, deforestation, poor forest management, and urbanization are the other major causes. The soil is getting sick with every practice of farming, either excessive use of fertilizers for better yield or sowing the same crop again and again. These practices are ultimately making the soil sick.

As You Sow, So Shall You Reap

There's an old saying, "You reap what you sow." Now, consider the current state of soil in many countries around the world. Is it healthy or unhealthy? Are the nutrient levels adequate or deficient? What is the soil carbon content? What about its water-holding capacity? These are critical questions we must address. Soil health is deteriorating globally, leading to poor nutrient content, reduced soil carbon, and diminished water retention abilities.

Soil health impacts human health too. Soil minerals directly impact crop productivity and quality, which determines the nutritional status of people consuming those crops. For instance, soil zinc availability is associated with children’s height growth, and soil iron availability is associated with haemoglobin levels. The link between soil zinc and childhood stunting is strong: a one standard deviation increase in satisfactory soil zinc tests is associated with roughly 11 fewer children stunted per 1,000.

The Way Out: Reimagining Indian Agriculture

To address soil degradation and ensure sustainable agriculture, we need to rethink our approach to farming. Traditional organic farming systems offer a viable solution, starting with the balanced use of fertilizers. Here's how this can be achieved:

1. Balanced Use of Fertilizers: Promote the judicious use of both chemical and biological fertilizers. This approach will reduce the pressure on the soil and improve its health.
2. Government and Industry Support: Real change requires robust support and action from the government and industry partners. They must work together to implement sustainable practices and provide resources and education to farmers.
3. Feed the Plant, Not the Soil: Shift the focus from feeding the soil with excessive fertilizers to directly nourishing the plants. This helps maintain soil health while ensuring plant productivity.
4. Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF): In the 2019 Budget Session of Parliament, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman advocated for Zero Budget Natural Farming, a sustainable method using traditional organic practices and no chemicals. However, many farmers are still unaware of ZBNF. Raising awareness and providing training is essential.
5. Combination of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers: Data from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research shows that the balanced use of fertilizers—both organic and inorganic—yields better long-term results. This combination maintains soil integrity and boosts crop output.
6. Regulation of Biological Products: Ensuring the quality of organic and biological products is crucial. Controlling spurious biologicals in the market will help build trust and promote the use of genuine, effective products.

?By integrating these practices, we can improve soil health, enhance agricultural productivity, and promote sustainable farming. This reimagined approach to agriculture will help secure a better future for our soil and our food systems.

These are a few questions that are unanswered and answers need to be explored. It is very challenging to have a discussion and conclude it on the go.