Chapter One: Introduction

1.1. Soil as renewable resource

Is soil a renewable resource?

Soil is a finite resource, meaning its loss and degradation is not recoverable within a human
lifespan. As a core component of land resources, agricultural development and ecological
sustainability, it is the basis for food, feed, fuel and fibre production and for many critical
ecosystem services. It is therefore a highly valuable natural resource, yet it is often overlooked.
The natural area of productive soils is limited – it is under increasing pressure of intensification
and competing uses for cropping, forestry, pasture / rangeland and urbanization, and to satisfy
demands of the growing population for food and energy production and raw materials extraction.
Soils need to be recognized and valued for their productive capacities as well as their
contribution to food security and the maintenance of key ecosystem services.

1. 2 Land/Soil Degradation

1.2.1. Land degradations

Land degradation is the substantial decrease in either or both of an area’s biological productivity
or usefulness to humans due to human activities. (UN/FAO definition) generally signifies the
temporary or permanent decline in the productive capacity of land. All definitions refer to the
degradation of land resources; soil, climate, water, vegetation and animals.

General agreement concerning two critical aspects of land degradation

1. There must be a substantial decrease in biological productivity of land system

2. This decrease is the result of processes resulting from human activities rather than natural
event

This decrease in biological productivity and usefulness (land degradation may be either
reversible in short-term or non-reversible in long-term. Two conditions must be met if it is to be
able to return to a non-degraded state. Stability and resilience
Stability:

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it is the ability of a system to return rapidly to its previous equilibrium state after a temporary
disturbance. A critical aspect of stability is the speed with which a system returns to its previous
state after a disturbance.
Resilience:
it is the capacity of a system to absorb change without significantly altering the relationship
between the numbers of individuals and species that compose the community
Causes of land degradation
• Deforestations
• Excessive use of fertilizer and pesticide
• Over grazing
• Salination
• Water logging
• Desertification
• Soil erosion
• Wasteland
1.2.2. Soil degradation

Soil degradation is the decline in soil quality or reduction in its productivity and environmental
regulatory capacity resulted from natural or human activities. Soil degradation is caused by
unsustainable land uses and management practices, and climate extremes that result from various
social, economic and governance drivers. Today, 33 percent of land is moderately to highly
degraded due to the erosion, salinization, compaction, acidification and chemical pollution of
soils. The current rate of soil degradation threatens the capacity of future generations to meet
their most basic needs. Current demographic trends and projected growth in global population (to
exceed 9 billion by 2050) are estimated to result in a 60 percent increase in demand for food,
feed and fibre by 2050. There is little opportunity for expansion in the agricultural area, except in
some parts of Africa and South America. Much of the additional available land is not suitable for
agriculture, and the ecological, social and economic costs of bringing it into production will be
very high. Sustainable management of the world’s agricultural soils and sustainable production
have therefore become imperative for reversing the trend of soil degradation and ensuring
current and future global food security.

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The sustainable use and management of soils is linked to many different areas of sustainable
development – poverty reduction, hunger eradication, economic growth and environmental
protection. Promoting the sustainable management of soils can contribute to healthy soils and
thus to the effort of eradicating hunger and food insecurity and to stable ecosystems. There is an
urgent need to stop land degradation in its various forms and establish frameworks for
sustainable soil management systems. The Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils of the
Global Soil Partnership recommends the following actions: Provide suitable technologies,
sustainable and inclusive policies, effective extension programmes and sound education systems
so that more is produced with less; Include soil protection and reclamation and sustainable land
management projects in the current emerging markets that provide an economic value to those
actions that produce ecosystem services; Recognize the increasing need to preserve soils and
have governments make corresponding investments; Promote management practices for climate
change adaptation and mitigation, and resilience to changing weather patterns and extremes;
Promote strong regulations and effective control by governments in order to limit the
accumulation of contaminants beyond established thresholds for human health and eventually to
remediate contaminated soils; Increase the area under sustainable soil management practices,
enhance the restoration of degraded soils, and promote “sustainable production intensification”
through adapted biological resources, increasing soil fertility, water use efficiency, ensuring
sustainable use of inputs and recycling of agricultural by-products; Support the development of
national soil information systems to assist decision-making on sustainable land and natural
resources uses; Increase investment in sustainable soil management by overcoming obstacles
including tenure security and user rights, access to knowledge and financial services; Strengthen
the implementation of capacity development and education programmes on sustainable soil
management.

Soil degradation process

A. Physical Processes: includes compaction, laterization, hardsetting, erosion,
desertification, environmental pollution; Structure decline;- loss of soil structure reduce
infiltration and water movement in the soil; Cresting seal the surface soil inhibiting entry
of water. Erosion physically removes soil material

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 B. Biological: Include all reduction in total and biomass carbon and decline in land
biodiversity, loss of biodiversity, depletion of OM
C. Chemical: Acidification, leaching, salinization, contamination, agricultural activities,
industrial activities, mining activities. Soil structure is the important property that affects
all three degradative processes. Land degradation could be driven by both biophysical
and socio-economic processes.

Causes of soil degradation

 Biophysical
• Land use
• Deforestation
• Cropping system
• Soil and crop management
• tillage
• drainage
 socio economic
• Tenure,
• Institutional strength

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 • Markets poverty
• Health
 Political
• Political stability,
• policies
Steps and formulation of objectives in assessing soil degradation
• Spatial analysis of soil degradation processes,
Soil erosion: extent, distribution
• Assessment of soil resources quality
Soil fertility: status of soil quality
Vegetation dynamics: changes taking place over a period
• identification of sensitive areas to soil degradation.
• Develop technical approaches to land degradation assessment at different spatial &
temporal scales
• Establish links between land degradation status & causes/ pressures (biophysical &
socioeconomic)
• Assess impacts of land degradation on human society & the environment
• Provide standardized, objective data/ information on land degradation

1.3 Soil and Water Conservation

Why Soil and Water Conservation?
Soil and water are two important natural resources and the basic needs for agricultural
production. During the last century it has been observed that the pressure of increasing
population has led to degradation of these natural resources. In other words, increase in
agricultural production to feed the increasing population is only possible if sufficient fertile land
and water are available for farming.
Water conservation is the use and management of water for the good of all users. Water is
abundant throughout the earth, yet only three percent of all water is fresh water, and less than
seven-tenths of freshwater is usable. Much of the usable water is utilized for irrigation. Detailed
analysis will show that in about fifteen years, about two-thirds of the world‟s population will be
living in some sort of water shortage. Water is used in nearly every aspect of life. There are

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multiple domestic, industrial and agricultural uses. Water conservation is rapidly becoming a hot
topic, yet many people do not realize the importance of soil conservation.
Soil conservation is defined as the control of soil erosion in order to maintain agricultural
productivity. Soil erosion is often the effect of many natural causes, such as water and wind.
There are also human factors which increase the rate of soil erosion such as construction,
cultivation and other activities. Some may argue that since it is a natural process, soil erosion is
not harmful. The truth is that with the removal of the top layer of soil, the organic matter and
nutrients are also removed. Conservation is not just the responsibility of soil and plant scientists,
hydrologists, wildlife managers, landowners, and the forest or mine owner alone. All citizens
should be made aware about the importance of natural resources as our lives depend on that and
everyone should be involved in the process of caring of these resources properly and using them
intelligently.

………………………………..…….Chapter End……………………………………….