Soil degradation and mitigation in agricultural lands in the Indian Anthropocene

Abstract

Current widespread and intensive soil degradation in India has been driven by unprecedented levels of population growth, large‐scale industrialization, high‐yield agriculture, urban sprawl and the spread of human infrastructure. The damage caused to managed and natural systems by soil degradation threatens livelihoods and local services and leads to national socio‐economic disruption. Human‐induced soil degradation results from land clearing and deforestation, inappropriate agricultural practices, improper management of industrial effluents and wastes, careless management of forests, surface mining, urban sprawl, and ill‐planned commercial and industrial development. Of these, inappropriate agricultural practices, including excessive tillage and use of heavy machinery, over‐grazing, excessive and unbalanced use of inorganic fertilizers, poor irrigation and water management techniques, pesticide overuse, inadequate crop residue and/or organic carbon inputs, and poor crop cycle planning, account for nearly 40% (121 Mha) of land degradation across India. Globally, human activities related to agriculture contribute to the transgression of four of the nine Planetary Boundaries proposed by Rockström et al. (2009): Climate Change, Biodiversity Integrity, Land‐system Change, and altered Phosphorus and Nitrogen Biogeochemical Flows. This review focuses on how knowledge of soil processes in agriculture has developed in India over the past 10 years, and the potential of soil science to meet the objectives of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger (End hunger, achieve food security, improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture), using the context of the four most relevant Planetary Boundaries as a framework. Solutions to mitigate soil degradation and improve soil health in different regions using conservation agricultural approaches have been proposed. Thus, in this review we (1) summarize the outputs of recent innovative research in India that has explored the impacts of soil degradation on four Planetary Boundaries (Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, Land‐system Change, and altered Biogeochemical Flows of Phosphorus and Nitrogen) and vice‐versa; and (2) identify the knowledge gaps that require urgent attention to inform developing soil science research agendas in India, to advise policy makers, and to support those whose livelihoods rely on the land.

Geochemical Signature and Risk Assessment of Potential Toxic Elements in Intensively Cultivated Soils of South-West Punjab, India

“…The scale of soil degradation in India, estimated by the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, is staggering, with approximately 30% of the country soil classified as degraded [41]. The majority of Indian states are severely impacted by soil degradation; the worst-affected states are Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana [28,35,[41][42][43]. It is believed that intensive farming methods, extensive use of chemicals and fertilizers, and inadequate irrigation management are some of the causes of soil degradation in these states.…”

Optimizing integrated nutrient management for sustainable maize–sesame cropping in Gujarat Plains: A soil health perspective

“…Maize resides in its remarkable adaptability to diverse agroclimatic regimes (APEDA, 2023). However, its high nutrient demands pose a risk to soil health and productivity, especially with continuous monoculture, leading to soil degradation (Bhattacharyya et al, 2023;Gupta et al, 2023). To optimize resources, introducing legumes or oilseeds into the cropping system, such as the maize-sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) sequence, enhances overall productivity and impact synergistically (Upadhaya et al, 2022;Dang & Hung, 2022).…”