Better Soil Health

SAIKAT K BASU

Soil health refers to the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans. It goes beyond just soil fertility and includes physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the soil. Key aspects of soil health include:

Biological activity: Presence of beneficial microorganisms, earthworms, and organic matter.

Chemical balance: Proper pH, nutrient availability, and absence of harmful contaminants.

Physical structure: Good soil texture, porosity, and water-holding capacity, allowing air and water to move freely.

Sustainability: Ability to resist erosion, degradation, and support long-term agricultural productivity.

Healthy soil supports plant growth, filters water, stores carbon, and plays a key role in climate regulation and food security.

Soil health is important for primary and secondary crops

Primary crops: Main crops grown in a region or on a farm, usually because they are the most important for food, income, or export. Examples: wheat, rice, maize.

Secondary crops: Additional or less dominant crops grown alongside primary crops. They often provide diversity, improve soil health, or supplement income. Examples: legumes, vegetables, or spices grown after or between primary crops.

Better soil health is essential for several critical reasons:

Food Production: Healthy soil is the foundation of productive agriculture. It provides essential nutrients, water retention, and a stable environment for crops, leading to higher yields and better-quality food.

Climate Regulation: Soils store vast amounts of carbon. Improving soil health helps sequester carbon dioxide, reducing greenhouse gas levels and mitigating climate change.

Water Management: Healthy soils improve water infiltration and retention, reducing erosion, runoff, and the risk of flooding and drought.

Biodiversity: Healthy soils are rich in microorganisms and other life forms that support ecosystem balance and resilience.

Pollution Control: Healthy soil can filter and break down contaminants, protecting groundwater and surrounding environments.

Sustainable Agriculture: Maintaining soil health reduces the need for chemical inputs, lowers costs for farmers, and promotes long-term land productivity.

Better soil health is vital for environmental sustainability, human health, and economic stability. Soil health has a critical influence on agriculture, both positively and negatively.

(Photos by the author

Positive Impacts of Good Soil Health on Agriculture:

Increased Crop Yields: Healthy soil provides essential nutrients, water, and oxygen that plants need to grow, leading to higher productivity.

Improved Soil Structure: Well-structured soil enhances root penetration and water retention, supporting better plant growth.

Enhanced Nutrient Cycling:  Microbes in healthy soil help decompose organic matter and release nutrients, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.

Water Management: Healthy soil absorbs and retains water more effectively, reducing runoff, erosion, and the need for irrigation.

Pest and Disease Resistance: Healthy soils support beneficial organisms that suppress soil-borne diseases and pests naturally.

Sustainability and Resilience: Crops grown in healthy soils are more resilient to environmental stresses such as drought or heavy rains.

Negative Impacts of Poor Soil Health on Agriculture:

Reduced Crop Productivity: Degraded soil has fewer nutrients and poor structure, leading to lower yields.

Increased Dependency on Inputs: Farmers may need more fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation to compensate for poor soil quality, raising costs.

Soil Erosion: Unhealthy soil is more prone to erosion, leading to loss of topsoil and further degradation.

Water Pollution: Poor soil health can lead to excess nutrient runoff (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus), causing water pollution and algal blooms.

Carbon Loss: Degraded soils release stored carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.

Loss of Biodiversity: Poor soil health can reduce the number and diversity of beneficial soil organisms, disrupting natural cycles.

Maintaining soil health is essential for long-term agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. Practices like crop rotation, application of green manure, cover cropping, composting, and reduced tillage can help improve and maintain soil health.

Crop rotation: An agricultural practice where different types of crops are grown in the same area in sequential seasons. This technique helps maintain soil fertility, reduce soil erosion, and prevent the buildup of pests and diseases. An important aspect of crop rotation is called green manure is a type of cover crop grown specifically to be plowed back into the soil to improve its fertility and structure. These plants, often legumes or grasses, add organic matter, nutrients (especially nitrogen), and help prevent soil erosion. Green manure enhances soil health naturally, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.

Key Benefits:

Improves soil health: Different crops contribute different nutrients to the soil or use them in varying ways.

Reduces pests and diseases: Rotating crops disrupts pest and disease life cycles.

Increases crop yield: Healthier soil leads to better plant growth.

Manages weeds: Varying crops can prevent certain weeds from becoming dominant.

Example of a Crop Rotation Cycle:

Year 1: Legumes (e.g., beans or peas) – fix nitrogen in the soil.

Year 2: Leafy vegetables (e.g., lettuce or cabbage) – use the nitrogen.

Year 3: Root crops (e.g., carrots or potatoes) – benefit from the improved soil structure.

Year 4: Fruits or grains (e.g., corn or wheat) – complete the cycle.

Cover Cropping: An agricultural practice where specific plants, called cover crops, are grown primarily to protect and improve the soil rather than for harvest. These crops help prevent soil erosion, improve soil fertility, suppress weeds, and enhance water retention. Common cover crops include clover, rye, vetch, and mustard. 

Composting: The atural process of recycling organic waste—like food scraps, yard trimmings, and paper—into nutrient-rich soil called compost. It helps reduce landfill waste and enriches soil for gardening and farming.

Reduced Tillage: An agricultural practice that minimizes soil disturbance compared to conventional tillage. Instead of fully turning over the soil, farmers disturb it less intensively, which helps improve soil structure, retain moisture, reduce erosion, and promote beneficial soil organisms. It can also lower fuel use and labour costs.

Profile of Soil Health Scenario: Developed Versus Developing Countries 

1. Soil Quality and Degradation

Developed Countries: Generally better managed soils with widespread adoption of conservation practices. Issues include salinization, acidification, and contamination from industrial pollutants. Advanced technology and stricter regulations help mitigate degradation.

Developing Countries: More vulnerable to soil degradation due to over-farming, deforestation, and poor land management. Problems like erosion, nutrient depletion, and desertification are common. Limited access to modern technology and resources hampers soil conservation efforts.

2. Agricultural Practices

Developed Countries: Use of precision agriculture, crop rotation, cover crops, and organic amendments. Heavy reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, but with increasing focus on sustainable practices.

Developing Countries: Predominantly traditional farming methods, often subsistence-based. Low fertilizer use and limited soil fertility management. Frequent monoculture practices increase vulnerability to soil depletion.

3. Research, Technology, and Policy Support

Developed Countries: Strong research institutions and access to soil testing, monitoring technologies. Government policies encourage sustainable soil management.

Developing Countries: Limited research infrastructure and extension services. Policies may exist but lack enforcement or resources for implementation.

4. Awareness and Education

Developed Countries: Higher awareness among farmers and public about soil health importance. Better training and education programs available.

Developing Countries: Lower awareness due to education gaps and immediate economic pressures. Knowledge transfer often limited to NGO or international development projects.

5. Environmental and Economic Impact

Developed Countries: Soil health impacts linked to environmental regulations and economic incentives. Soil degradation can affect crop yields but mitigated by technological buffers.

Developing Countries: Soil degradation directly threatens food security and livelihoods. Economic constraints limit capacity for soil restoration.