Overview of Global Soil Conference 2024

Purpose: Organized by the Indian Society of Soil Science (ISSS) in collaboration with the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS), the GSC aimed to address critical challenges related to sustainable soil and resource management.

Theme: Caring Soils Beyond Food Security: Climate Change Mitigation & Ecosystem Services.

Key Focus Areas:

Recognition of soil degradation as a global issue impacting food security and ecosystem balance.

Highlighted that approximately 30% of Indian soil suffers from erosion, salinity, pollution, and reduced organic content.

Called for international collaboration to combat soil degradation in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 of the United Nations.

SDG 15 targets sustainable land use, combating desertification, halting biodiversity loss, and restoring degraded land.

Note:

The ISSS was established in 1934 in Kolkata under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

The IUSS, a non-governmental scientific society under the International Science Council (ISC), fosters global cooperation in soil science research and applications.

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Challenges to Soil Health in India

Soil Degradation:

Unsustainable agricultural practices and improper soil management have degraded over one-third of India’s land.

Soil Erosion and Fertility Loss:

India loses approximately 15.35 tonnes of soil per hectare annually, leading to reduced crop yields and the loss of 13.4 million tonnes of rainfed crops annually.

Erosion also causes economic losses, increases drought and flood risks, and reduces reservoir capacities by 1–2% annually.

Salinity:

Excessive salinity diminishes water infiltration, nutrient absorption, and soil structure, rendering the land infertile.

Low Organic and Nutrient Content:

Organic content in Indian soils is alarmingly low (around 0.54%), causing nutrient deficiencies and poor fertility.

Over 70% of Indian soils face issues of acidity or alkalinity, further disrupting the natural nutrient cycle.

Desertification:

Leads to loss of organic matter, reduced moisture retention, and declining soil fertility, ultimately affecting food security.

Land Diversion:

Fertile agricultural lands are being increasingly diverted for non-agricultural purposes.

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Soil Conservation Initiatives in India

Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme: Provides farmers with soil health data to guide fertilization and management practices.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): Promotes water-use efficiency and reduces soil erosion.

Zero Budget Natural Farming: Encourages chemical-free farming practices to restore soil health.

Natural Farming Mission: Aims to improve soil fertility through organic methods.

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Soil Types in India

India’s diverse topography, climate, and vegetation have resulted in a variety of soils. The Soil Survey of India (established in 1956) and the National Bureau of Soil Survey use the USDA Soil Taxonomy to classify Indian soils based on factors like origin, color, and composition.

Soil Type	Distribution	Characteristics	Main Crops Grown
Alluvial Soil	Northern plains, river valleys	Fertile, rich in potash	Rice, wheat, sugarcane
Black Soil	Deccan Plateau	High moisture retention	Cotton, pulses
Red and Yellow	Eastern India	Low fertility, rich in iron	Millets, pulses
Laterite Soil	High rainfall areas	Poor organic matter	Tea, coffee
Arid Soil	Western India	High salinity, poor fertility	Millets, barley
Saline Soil	Coastal areas	High salt content	Rice (with treatment)
Peaty Soil	Waterlogged regions	High organic matter	Jute, rice
Forest Soil	Himalayan and Ghats regions	Fertile in valleys	Spices, tropical fruits

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Improving Soil Health

Policy Interventions: Expand schemes like SHC for detailed soil nutrient mapping.

Carbon Sequestration: Promote soil carbon storage through practices like cover cropping and no-till farming.

Sustainable Farming: Adopt crop rotation, agroforestry, and organic farming on a larger scale.

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Conclusion

The Global Soil Conference 2024 reiterated the need for proactive soil management to enhance food security and address climate challenges. For India, adopting sustainable practices and strengthening policies will be essential to combat soil degradation and achieve long-term agricultural and economic resilience.