Soil pollution is a chemical degradation process that consumes fertile soils, with implications for global food security and human health. As per the 2019-20 Soil Health Survey conducted by the Indian government, 55 % of the country’s soil is deficient in nitrogen, 42 % in phosphorus and 44 % in organic carbon.

Effects of Soil Pollution: Agricultural, Industrial, Urban

• Agricultural:  Reduced soil fertility, Reduced nitrogen fixation, Increased erodibility, Reduced crop yield.
• Industrial:  Dangerous chemicals entering underground water.
• Ecological imbalance: Release of pollutant gases, Increased salinity, Reduced vegetation.
• Urban: Clogging of drains, Inundation of areas, public health problems, Pollution of drinking water sources, Foul smell and release of gases, Waste management problem.

Challenges Related to Soil Health in India: Low Organic Carbon Content, Nutrient Deficiencies, Water Management Issues

• Low Organic Carbon Content: Indian soils generally exhibit very low levels of organic carbon, a critical component for soil fertility and water retention. The soil organic carbon (SOC) content in Indian soils has diminished from 1% to 0.3% over the past 70 years.
• Nutrient Deficiencies: A substantial portion of Indian soils lack essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The over-reliance on chemical fertilizers exacerbates these nutrient deficiencies.
• Water Management Issues: Both water scarcity and improper irrigation practices adversely affect soil health. Insufficient water can cause salinization, whereas over-irrigation can lead to waterlogging, both of which degrade soil fertility and structure. Approximately 70% of irrigation water in India is wasted due to poor management by farmers. 
• Socioeconomic Factors: Population pressures and economic constraints result in land fragmentation, making it challenging for farmers to implement sustainable practices that enhance soil health. The average landholding size in India is between 1 to 1.21 hectares.

Government Initiatives Related to Soil Conservation: Soil Health Management, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana

• Soil Health Management under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) – Soil Health Card Scheme: Aimed at promoting soil health management practices among farmers.
• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): PKVY focuses on reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides by promoting organic farming, which allows for the natural replenishment of soil nutrients and organic matter, leading to healthier soil.
• Neem Coating of Urea: Neem coating slows down the release of urea, making nitrogen available to plants for an extended period and reducing wastage. This practice translates to reduced fertilizer needs and potentially improved soil health over time.
• Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme: This scheme subsidies essential nutrients like phosphorus and potassium, besides nitrogen from urea, encouraging balanced fertilizer use. The scheme aims to prevent excessive reliance on nitrogen, which can harm soil health over time.
• Five-pronged strategy for soil conservation: The components include making soil chemical-free, saving soil biodiversity, enhancing SOM, maintaining soil moisture, mitigating soil degradation and preventing soil erosion.
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana: To prevent soil erosion, regeneration of natural vegetation, rainwater harvesting and recharging of the groundwater table.
• National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture: To promote sustainable agriculture practices.
• PM-PRANAM Scheme:  To reduce the use of chemical fertilizers by incentivizing states to adopt alternative fertilizers.

Way Forward

• Reusing materials Glass containers, plastic bags, paper, fabric, and other materials can be reused at home rather than disposed of, minimizing solid waste pollution. 
• Recycling and recovery of materials: Paper, various types of plastics, and glass can all be recycled, and they are. 
• Reforesting:  Land loss and soil erosion can be slowed by restoring forest and grass cover, which helps to prevent wastelands, soil erosion, and floods.
• Crop rotation or mixed cropping can help to increase soil fertility.
• The proper strategies for managing solid waste disposal should be used. 

Conclusion

SDG target 15 on land degradation neutrality mentions, by 2030 to combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. Addressing the challenges of soil health in India is essential for sustainable agriculture.

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