Soil Health Issues in India

Deterioration of Soil health in India is alarming due to various factors crumbling the foundation of Agriculture. India’s agricultural transformation, from food scarcity to self-sufficiency, was built on the back of its rich and diverse soils. However, the very bedrock of this success is now under severe threat. Read here to learn more.

Data from the Soil Health Card scheme paints a grim picture: only 5% of Indian soils have adequate nitrogen, and fertilizer use efficiency has plummeted from 1:10 in the 1970s to just 1:2.7.

Such deterioration threatens not only agricultural output but also environmental stability and rural livelihoods.

Soil health issues in India

1. Overuse and Misuse of Fertilisers

• Disproportionate use of nitrogenous fertilizers (especially urea) has skewed the NPK ratio to 7.7:3.1:1, against the recommended 4:2:1.
• This imbalance leads to nutrient deficiency, lower microbial activity, and long-term soil fatigue.

2. Irrigation-Induced Water Erosion and Salinization

• Improper irrigation methods in Punjab and Tamil Nadu have led to salinity and waterlogging.
• Secondary salinization due to poor drainage has rendered vast tracts unproductive.
• Water erosion affects over 11% of India’s land, according to the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas.

3. Deforestation and Land Use Change

• Rapid forest clearance for agriculture and infrastructure has stripped protective vegetation.
• Brahmaputra Valley in Assam is a hotspot for water-induced erosion.
• GFW data shows that 95% of tree cover loss (2013–2023) was from natural forests.

4. Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events

• Increased rainfall variability and temperature extremes reduce organic carbon content.
• 83.69 million hectares of dryland face desertification, exacerbated by climate shocks.

5. Intensive Farming and Monocropping

• States like Punjab follow wheat-rice monoculture cycles, leading to specific nutrient depletion.
• Soil organic carbon has dropped to 0.3% from historical levels of 1% in many areas.
• Reduced porosity and microbial diversity further diminish productivity.

6. Industrial Pollution and Mining

• Soils in Kanpur and Ahmedabad are contaminated with heavy metals (Pb, Mn), affecting crops and health.
• Toxic accumulation reduces productivity and destroys beneficial soil microbes.

7. Overgrazing and Land Overuse

• India’s livestock population (>535 million) far exceeds the land’s carrying capacity.
• Arid zones like Rajasthan and Gujarat are particularly vulnerable to wind erosion due to overgrazing.

Regional Soil Vulnerability in India

Soil Type	States	Soil Health Challenges
Alluvial Soil	Indo-Gangetic plains, TN, Odisha	Nutrient loss, waterlogging, erosion
Black Soil (Regur)	MP, MH, TN, Gujarat	Salinity, poor drainage, and cracking in the dry season
Red Soil	Karnataka, Odisha, TN, AP	Nitrogen-deficient, prone to erosion, low water retention
Laterite Soil	Kerala, Assam, Odisha, WB	Acidic, nutrient-poor, erodes under heavy rainfall
Desert Soil	Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat	High salinity, low moisture, wind erosion
Mountain Soil	NE states, Himalayas	Erosion on slopes, landslides, and low fertility

Read: Soils of India: Classifications and Characterizations

Implications of Degrading Soil Health

1. Economic

• Productivity Decline: Lower yields despite increased inputs.
• Rising Input Costs: Excessive dependence on fertilizers, especially nitrogen-based ones.

1. Social

• Food Insecurity: Over 30% of land is degraded, jeopardising food production for growing populations.
• Farmer Distress: Falling yields and rising costs push farmers into debt and distress.

1. Cultural

• Loss of Traditional Practices: Organic, diversified, sustainable farming systems are being replaced with chemical-intensive methods.

1. Ecological

• Biodiversity Loss: Habitat degradation impacts local flora and fauna (e.g., Assam and the Himalayan belt).
• Water Pollution: Runoff from degraded soils carries nutrients and pesticides into rivers.
• Carbon Emissions: Loss of soil organic carbon turns soils from carbon sinks to carbon sources, contributing to climate change.

Measures for Sustainable Soil Management

1. Science-Based Fertilization

• Precision Farming: Use of Soil Health Cards, Variable Rate Application (VRA), and remote sensing.
• Promotion of balanced NPK application and micronutrient use.

2. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) & Organic Farming

• Use of biofertilizers, crop rotation, and organic compost to restore microbial health.
• IPM reduces pesticide load and promotes ecological pest control.

3. Conservation Agriculture (CA)

• Techniques: Minimal tillage, crop cover, crop rotation.
• Reduces erosion, enhances soil structure and organic carbon.

4. Precision Agriculture Tools

• Technologies like Agri-IoT, soil moisture sensors, and satellite imagery can be used to monitor input use.
• Promotes data-driven interventions tailored to local conditions.

5. Agroforestry and Afforestation

• Tree-based farming systems enhance biodiversity, reduce erosion, and improve carbon sequestration.
• Offers diversified income sources and stabilises marginal lands.

6. Soil Carbon Sequestration

• Techniques: Biochar application, mulching, composting.
• It could help meet climate goals and generate carbon credits for farmers.

7. Water-Efficient Irrigation

• Drip and sprinkler irrigation to prevent salinization and waterlogging.
• Rainwater harvesting can recharge aquifers and maintain soil moisture.

8. Real-Time Soil Monitoring Infrastructure

• Integrate SHC data with satellite-based maps for dynamic soil health tracking.
• Localized action plans can be developed using GIS mapping tools.

9. Capacity Building and Farmer Education

• Extension services, training on climate-resilient practices and sustainable soil use.
• Promote community-led watershed management for holistic outcomes.

Conclusion

Degrading Soil health in India is not merely an environmental problem; it is an agricultural, economic, and social emergency.

With 30% of land degraded and nutrient cycles disrupted, the nation’s food security and rural economy are at stake.

Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) by 2030, a commitment under the UNCCD, requires multi-stakeholder action, integrated policy responses, and a decisive shift from input-intensive agriculture to ecologically sound practices.

Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following pairs regarding soil types and associated challenges in India:

Soil Type	Associated Problem
1. Black Soil	Poor drainage and salinization
2. Red Soil	Rich in nitrogen and organic matter
3. Desert Soil	High salinity and low fertility
4. Laterite Soil	Highly acidic and nutrient-deficient

Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?
A. 1, 3 and 4 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2 and 4 only

Q3. Which of the following factors contribute significantly to soil salinization in India?

1. Excessive use of nitrogen-based fertilizers
2. Over-irrigation without proper drainage
3. Climate change-induced sea-level rise
4. Deforestation in semi-arid regions
5. 1 and 4 only
   B. 2 and 3 only
   C. 1, 2 and 3 only
   D. All of the above

Q4. Which of the following initiatives can help reduce soil degradation?

1. Conservation agriculture
2. Variable Rate Application (VRA) of fertilizers
3. Agroforestry
4. Monoculture of rice and wheat
5. 1, 2 and 3 only
   B. 1, 3 and 4 only
   C. 2 and 4 only
   D. All of the above

Read: Causes of Soil Degradation and Methods for Soil Conservation