Mains Practice Questions

Introduction

Soil degradation poses a significant challenge to India's agricultural sustainability, impacting food security, livelihoods, and environmental balance.

• The Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India (SAC 2021) estimates that 97.85 million hectares (29.77% of India’s geographical area) are degraded, with desertification processes increasing over time.

Body

Causes of Soil Degradation in India

• Deforestation and Urbanization
  • Large-scale deforestation for agriculture, infrastructure, and urban expansion accelerates soil erosion and reduces water retention. It is prevalent all over India.
  • 95% of tree cover loss (2013–2023) occurred in natural forests, with the Western Ghats losing 5% of its evergreen forests.
• Unsustainable Agricultural Practices
  • The overuse of urea-based fertilizers and neglect of phosphorus and potassium has led to nutrient depletion.
    • Less than 5% of Indian soils have high nitrogen levels, while only 20% contain sufficient organic carbon.
  • Punjab and Haryana, due to intensive Green Revolution farming, have experienced declining soil fertility.
• Overgrazing and Livestock Pressure
  • India has 535 million livestock, exceeding the sustainable carrying capacity of grazing lands, leading to severe vegetation loss.
  • Key Affected Regions: States like Rajasthan and Gujarat face widespread topsoil erosion due to unregulated grazing.
• Industrial Pollution and Mining Activities
  • Mining states like Odisha and Jharkhand suffer from heavy metal contamination.
  • The Sterlite Copper plant (Tamil Nadu) caused severe soil and water contamination.
• Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events
  • Erratic rainfall, droughts, and floods accelerate soil erosion and nutrient depletion.
    • The 2023 Himachal Pradesh floods resulted in significant topsoil loss.
  • Soil erosion rates are projected to increase from 35.3% to 40.3% by the end of the century due to climate change.
• Shifting Cultivation (Slash-and-Burn)
  • Jhum cultivation in northeastern states like Nagaland, Assam, and Mizoram has degraded 4,925 km² of land, leading to extensive soil erosion.
  • Infrastructure Development & Construction Activities
  • Large projects like the Char Dham Highway in Uttarakhand have led to 300+ instances of landslides due to soil instability.

Consequences of Soil Degradation

Conservation Measures to Prevent Soil Degradation:

• Sustainable Agricultural Practices
  • Balanced Fertilization: Linking the Soil Health Card Scheme with real-time advisory services for precise fertilizer use.
  • Organic and Natural Farming: Expanding Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Subhash Palekar Natural Farming (SPNF) models.
• Improved Water Management
  • Micro-irrigation (Drip and Sprinkler): Expanding PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) to reduce water wastage.
  • Rainwater Harvesting: Promoting watershed development and check-dam construction to enhance groundwater recharge.
• Reforestation and Agroforestry
  • Expanding the National Afforestation Programme (NAP) with community-led tree-planting initiatives.
  • Implementing the Wadi System, integrating agriculture, horticulture, and forestry for soil conservation.
• Controlling Mining and Industrial Pollution
  • Stronger regulations on illegal mining and industrial waste disposal in Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh.
  • Expanding bioremediation techniques, such as microbial treatment, to detoxify contaminated soil.
• Erosion Control Measures
  • Mulching and Cover Cropping: Reduces wind and water erosion in semi-arid zones.
  • Zero Tillage Farming: Expanding Happy Seeder technology to high-yield areas like Punjab and Haryana.
• Research & Development for Soil Conservation
  • Investing in Biochar and Microbial Fertilizers: Enhancing soil carbon and microbial activity.
  • Digital Soil Health Mapping: Leveraging ISRO’s Earth Observation Satellites to track degradation trends.

Conclusion

Integrating sustainable agriculture, afforestation, water conservation, and community-led initiatives will be key to restoring India’s soil health. A holistic, region-specific, and technology-driven approach is needed to ensure long-term agricultural sustainability and environmental resilience.