World Soil Day: Celebrating Soil's Vital Role in Sustainability and Life

In 2014, the UN General Assembly established World Soil Day to honor the efforts of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who championed sustainable soil management. The day serves as a reminder of soil's critical role in environmental sustainability, poverty reduction, and food security. This year's theme, “Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage,” emphasizes the importance of accurate soil data and monitoring to ensure effective soil management practices. Soil is not just the earth beneath our feet; it is a living, breathing ecosystem that sustains life in countless ways. Unfortunately, human activities are increasingly threatening this invaluable resource.

Significance of Soil

• Pocket of Natural Nutrients: Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are among the vital elements that soil supplies, allowing plants to develop and flourish.

• The Natural Water Reservoir: By retaining and controlling water like a sponge, soil lowers the chance of flooding and guarantees crop survival during dry spells.

• Home to millions: Millions of microorganisms, which are essential for decomposing organic matter and recycling nutrients, are found in only a small sample of soil.

• Backbone of nature: Because soil absorbs and stores carbon, it acts as a natural defense against climate change and acts as a buffer.

Types of Soil: Global and Indian Context

Globally Recognized Soil Types

• Sandy Soil: Sandy soil is found in arid regions and is low in nutrient and moisture retention.

• Clay Soil: It is Common in tropical zones, retains moisture well, and is quite sticky.

• Silt Soil: Found in floodplains, highly fertile. It is created when any rock is eroded by water or ice.

• Loamy Soil: This soil is Ideal for agriculture, a combination of sand, silt, and clay. It can hold moisture well which is why it is drought resistant.

• Peat Soil: This is also known as Black cotton soil and is rich in organic matter, found in wetlands.

Soil Types in India

India has diverse climatic conditions and geography, which means that there are varied soil types:

1. Alluvial Soil

• It covers 43% of India's land.

• Found in Indo-Gangetic plains, highly fertile.

• Ideal for wheat, rice, and sugarcane cultivation.

2. Black Soil

• Rich in clay and calcium carbonate

• Found in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat

• Best for cotton and soybean

3. Red Soil

• High in iron, low in nitrogen and phosphorus

• Found in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Odisha

• Best suited to grow millets, tobacco, oil seeds

4. Laterite Soil

• Common in high-rainfall areas like Kerala and Assam.

• Suited for tea, coffee, and cashew crops.

5. Desert Soil:

• Sandy and saline, are found in Rajasthan.

• Requires irrigation for agriculture.

Nutrient Deficiencies in Indian Soil

The All India Coordinated Research Project on Micro- and Secondary Nutrients and Pollutant Elements in Soils and Plants (AICRP-MSPE) provides a comprehensive analysis:

• Zinc: Deficient in 36.5% of soils, impacting crop yields and human immunity.

• Iron: Deficient in 12.8%, contributing to anemia prevalence.

• Boron: Deficient in 23.4% of soils; it is essential for crop reproductive health.

• Manganese: Affects 7.1% of soils.

• Copper: Deficient in 4.2% of soils; it is crucial for enzyme systems.

Effect on Human Health

Human health is directly impacted by micronutrient deficits in crops caused by nutrient-deficient soils:

Children who are zinc deficient experience limited growth and decreased immunity. Anemia is caused by iron deficiency, particularly in women and children. Boron and Manganese Deficiency: It affects the quality of crops, diminishing their nutritional value.

Problems in Soil Health

• The pH and microbiological balance of the soil are disturbed by overuse of chemical fertilizers. Degradation and erosion cause the top fertile layer to disappear.

• In dry and semi-arid regions, soil fertility is influenced by salt and alkalinity.

• Monocropping and burning residue both reduce the soil's organic matter content.

• Industrial waste is not well treated and dumped directly in the soil, deteriorating its health directly. 

• Remedies: Changing to Soil-Friendly Agriculture 

Conservation Practices

• No-Till Farming: No soil erosion, and its organic content is maintained.

• Crop Rotation: Alternating crop types to improve soil fertility.

• Cover Crops and Green Mulching: This reduces water evaporation levels and adds moisture and organic matter to the soil.

Advanced Fertilizer Practices

• Fertilizers enriched with zinc: Contributes to long-term increases in crop production.

• Precision farming is the use of technology to apply water and fertilizer.

Creative Methods

• Carbon farming increases soil fertility and carbon sequestration.

• Digital Agriculture: Tools like Bhoomitra and Krishi-RASTAA empower data-driven farming.

Initiatives to Restore Soil Health in India

Data on soil health and fertilizer recommendations are sent to farmers through the Soil Health Card Scheme (SHC). Organic agricultural methods are the focus of the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana. Balanced fertilizer use is the goal of the nutrient-based subsidy program. AI and IoT for crop and soil monitoring are examples of digital innovations. Programs for Fertilizer Self-Sufficiency: enriched and environmentally friendly fertilizers.

A global campaign called "Save Soil" initiated by Sadhguru: Indian Yogi, aims to address the soil crisis by bringing people together to advocate for soil health and assist world leaders in implementing policies that will increase the amount of organic matter in agricultural soil.

We are reminded on World Soil Day of the delicate yet essential function soil plays in maintaining ecosystems and human society. By treating nutrient deficiencies, implementing sustainable practices, and utilizing technology, soil health can be restored. We should all work together to preserve soil for future generations because it is more than just an agricultural medium—it is the basis of life.