Dr. Banarsi Lal
Every year 5th of December iscelebrated as theWorld Soil Dayacross the globe to create awareness on the importance of soil quality for human well-being,food security and healthy ecosystem by addressing the challenges in soil health management by encouraging thevarious organisations, communities and individuals across the globe. Thetheme of 2023 World Soil Day is “Soil and Water: A Source of Life”. The major objective of this year World Soil Day is to raise awareness on the importance of soil and water in achieving sustainable and resilient agrifood systems.This day mainly aims to create awareness on the sustainable soil health management and is celebrated across the globe to generate and communicate healthy soil knowledge for the farmers so that the quality and safe food can be produced for the human beings.Soil provides living space for the living organisms as well as the ecosystem services which are essential for the water regulation,biodiversity conservation,carbon sequestration etc. Presently the soil is under tremendous pressure due to increase in population at an alarming rate and higher demand for food. Problems like deforestation, bad agricultural practices and soil pollution have degraded soil.It has been observed that around 33 per cent of global soils are degraded.
Survival of life on the Earth depends on the precious link between soil and water. About 95 per cent of our food is produced from these two fundamental resources. Soil and water bind our ecosystem together. These are the two mediums in which the plants grow and obtain essential nutrients. This symbiotic relationship is the foundation of our ecosystem. Recognising their valuable roles, we can take proactive measures to safeguard these resources for future generations. Sustainable soil management is key to improve water productivity in irrigated systems.Although soil plays an essential role in human livelihood but there is worldwide degradation in soil due its inappropriate management practices, population pressure and inadequate governance over this essential resource. The nutritional value of the food we eat is directly associated with the soil health. Soil high in organic carbon content enables better rainfall infiltration and retention and provides greater resilience to drought.Soil helps in food production, biodiversity and energy maintenance.Soils are vulnerable to carbon loss through degradation but regenerative land management practices can build and restore soil health. Soil is constituted of organic remains, clay and rock particles found on the earth’s surface.Soil health is being deteriorated by the unhealthy agricultural practices, deforestation and pollution. There is urgent need to create awareness among the farmers on soil health and technical and scientific advice should be provided to them.The International Union of Soil Sciences in 2002 adopted a resolution proposing the 5th of December as World Soil Day to celebrate the importance of soil, a critical component of the natural system and as a vital contributor to the human well-being. It was firstly celebrated on December 5, 2012, which corresponds with the birthday of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who officially sanctioned the event. As the global population is increasing at an alarmingly rate so does the demand for water and this is depleting the water and other natural resources. There is dire need to tackle the global water crisis. By using the water more efficiently we can reduce the green house gases. Water is the most precious resource on the earth. Itis a finite natural resource on the earth. We must use it judiciously with more responsibility. We need to balance the use of water while ensuring the poorest people don’t left behind. Water is indispensable for the existence of animal and plant eco-systems and is an essential element in the development of any nation. It is the most vital resource for the existence of life on earth. No other natural resource is having such an overwhelming influence as water has. Earth three-fourths surface is covered by the oceans. Freshwater constitutes a very small proportion of this enormous quantity of water. Only 2.7 per cent of the total water available on the earth is fresh water out of which 75.2 per cent lies frozen in Polar Regions and another 22.6 per cent is present as ground water. Remaining water is available in rivers, lakes, atmosphere water and soil and vegetation. Climate change increases the intensity and frequency of natural disasters and water-related extreme events such as rainfall, droughts, floods etc.
Soil is the greatest reservoir of biodiversity. It is the critical component of the natural system and as a vital contributor to the human commonwealth through its contribution to food, water and energy security and as a mitigator of biodiversity loss and climate change. It is the top layer of the earth which is familiar to everybody. It is a finite natural resource. It is non-renewable in nature. A healthy soil is a living ecosystem in which the dead organic matter forms the base of a food web consisting of microscopic and larger organisms. Soils supply nutrients and water which are vital for plants and are home to organisms that interact with plants. Healthy soils are needed to produce the healthy food and zero hunger. Healthy soil is the key to sustaining life and the adoption of sustainable land management practices are becoming more and more important. It is estimated that natural processes take more than 500 years to form 2 centimeters of topsoil. Soil stores around 10 per cent of the worlds carbon dioxide emissions. Microbial activities controls and manipulates the chemistry of the soil. Living organisms in the soil control water infiltration, mineral density and nutrient cycling. Fungi and bacteria help to break down organic matter in the soil and earthworms digest organic matter, recycle nutrients and make the soil surface richer. In a handful of fertile soil, there are more individual organisms than the total number of human beings that have ever existed on the earth. Although soil plays an essential role for the human livelihoods but there is worldwide increase in the degradation of soil resources due to inappropriate management practices, population pressure driving unsustainable intensification and inadequategovernance over this essential resource.
Soil pollution affects food security by reducing the crop yield and food quality. Soil holds three times as much carbon as the atmosphere and can help us to meet the challenges of a changing climate. About 815 million people are food insecure and 2 billion people are nutritionally insecure but we can mitigate this through soil. About 95 per cent of our food comes from soil and about 33 per cent of our soils are already degraded. Soil acts as the filter for many contaminants but its buffering capacity is finite. If the latter exceeds then contaminants can seep into the environment and enter inthe food chain. The government has initiated a number of developmental schemes and programmes which have the potential to immensely benefit the farming community by strengthening the roots of agriculture. On 19th February, 2015 the Prime Minister of India launched the nationwide Soil Health Card Scheme from Suratgarh, Rajasthan. Soil Health Card Scheme is a national movement across the country. Under this scheme the soil sample is taken by the experts from the farmer’s field and tested in a soil health laboratory. Then the soil health card is issued to the farmers regarding the ingredients and deficiencies in the soil. On the basis of the results of the soils of respective farmer field, he can add the plants nutrients in the soil accordingly. This scheme may not only maintain the health of the soil but will also reduce the cost of cultivation. This will also help to identify the best crop suited in the respective field.Soil conservation programmes are organised by the Government and also Non-Governmental agencies in our country. Major objective of soil conservation is to keep everything in the soil in its place. It manages the soil erosion and process of sedimentation. Soil fertility needs to be restored in order to allow a satisfactory and early return on the capital and labour invested. Most of the soil conservation programmes emphasize on soil degradation than on the top-down approach in recommending and disseminating practices. Soil conservation programmes that aim to reduce soil degradation problems need long-term bottom-up approach. There is urgent need to promote the practices for maintaining the healthy soils. Healthy soils are the solutions of ourmany problems.
(The writer is Sr. Scientist & Head of KVK, Reasi SKUAST-J).
