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22 May, 2026
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Measure of carbon stored in soil organic matter, critical for fertility, water retention, and climate mitigation.
Why in News
Excessive use of chemical fertilisers in India has led to a sharp decline in Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) levels, reducing crop response ratios and accelerating soil degradation across intensive farming regions.
Key Facts
- Definition: SOC refers to the carbon component of organic matter in soil — decomposed plant and animal residues, microbial biomass, and humus.
- Ideal SOC Level: Healthy agricultural soils should have >1.5% SOC; Indian soils in intensive farming zones often fall below 5%. (UPSC Mains Usage: Land degradation and desertification)
- Functions: SOC improves soil structure, enhances water-holding capacity, boosts nutrient cycling, and supports beneficial microbial activity.
- Climate Role: Soils are the largest terrestrial carbon sink — restoring SOC helps sequester atmospheric CO2 and mitigate climate change.
- Depletion Drivers: Over-application of nitrogenous fertilisers, lack of crop residue incorporation, monocropping, and declining use of farmyard manure (FYM).
- India's Challenge: 68% of Indian soils are deficient in SOC, according to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
- Policy Response: PM-PRANAM, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), and Soil Health Card Scheme promote practices like composting, green manuring, and crop rotation to restore SOC.
Quick Revision Box
|
Term |
Detail |
|
Ideal SOC Level |
>1.5% for healthy soils |
|
Indian Soil Status |
68% deficient in SOC (ICAR data) |
|
Global Carbon Sink |
Soils store ~2,500 Gt carbon (largest terrestrial pool) |
|
Depletion Cause |
Over-use of urea, lack of crop residue |
|
Restoration Method |
Composting, green manure, FYM |
|
Linked Scheme |
Soil Health Card Scheme |
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