World Soil Day 2024

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• World Soil Day, celebrated annually on December 5, raises global awareness about the critical role of soil in sustaining life. 

World Soil Day

• Background: The concept of World Soil Day was introduced by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002.
  • The FAO Conference unanimously endorsed World Soil Day in June 2013 and in December 2013, the UN General Assembly responded by designating 5 December 2014 as the first official World Soil Day.
• Theme for 2024: Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage.

Importance of Soil

• Foundation of Life: Soil supports plant growth by providing essential nutrients, water, and oxygen, forming the base of terrestrial food chains.
• Ecosystem Services: Acts as a natural water filter, removing pollutants and replenishing groundwater.
• Climate Regulation: Plays a significant role in carbon sequestration, mitigating climate change by storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.
• Biodiversity Hotspot: Soil houses diverse organisms, from microbes to insects, which facilitate nutrient cycling and enhance plant health.

What is Soil Degradation?

• Soil degradation refers to the decline in soil health due to factors such as poor land management, deforestation, overgrazing, urbanization, and overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
• The FAO estimates that 33% of global soils are moderately to severely degraded.
  • In India 90% of topsoil lacks nitrogen and phosphorus, while 50% is deficient in potassium.

Challenges to Soil Health

• Nutrient Loss: Unchecked erosion has led to the depletion of fertile topsoil, affecting crop yields.
• Excessive Chemical Use: Overuse of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides has degraded soil quality, disrupted microbial activity, and reduced organic carbon levels.
• Urbanization: Rapid urban expansion has encroached upon arable land, further reducing soil availability for agriculture.
• Climate Change: Erratic rainfall patterns and rising temperatures exacerbate soil degradation.

Government Initiatives for Soil Conservation

• Soil Health Card Scheme: It provides farmers with soil nutrient status reports to encourage balanced fertilizer use and improve productivity.
• Promotion of Organic Farming: Initiatives like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) encourage organic farming practices to maintain soil health.
• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): It focuses on enhancing soil health through integrated farming systems and agroforestry practices.

Global Initiatives

• Global Soil Partnership (GSP): It is an FAO-led initiative to improve global soil governance and promote sustainable soil management.
• United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD): It works to prevent land degradation and promote sustainable land management globally.
  • It has a pledge for land degradation neutrality (LDN) by 2030. 
• 4 per 1000 Initiative: It aims to increase soil carbon stocks by 0.4% annually to combat climate change and enhance soil health.

Way Ahead

• Integrated Soil Management: Combine organic and chemical fertilizers to restore soil nutrients sustainably.
• Enhanced Monitoring: Use modern technologies such as satellite imagery and AI-based tools to monitor soil health and degradation trends.
• Community Engagement: Encourage local communities to adopt soil conservation techniques like contour plowing and crop rotation.

Source: DTE