Soil Health in India: Past History and Future Perspective (original) (raw)

Soil Biology, 2020

Abstract

Soil is a very important and sensitive resource of any country as the crop yield of a nation on which the whole population depends is directly linked to the soil health. The dependence of a nation on others for meeting the demand of its population for food and other crop products is a matter of great concern. The Green Revolution in India intensified agricultural productivity to meet urgent public needs and for the commercialization of crop products. Indeed, Green Revolution helped in achieving goal up to a certain level with the use of high input of chemicals in the form of fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, nematicides and weedicides along with intense irrigation practices. After Green Revolution, the decline in crop yield in spite of fertilizer application reveals the loss of soil fertility. Toxic chemicals in soil affected the life of beneficial soil organisms, which indeed are responsible for maintaining soil fertility. Further, these chemicals polluted groundwater, air and adversely affected human and animal health. Hence, restoration of soil health and environment is an urgent need. Avoidance of chemical fertilizers and use of natural fertilizers like biofertilizers, vermicompost, farm yard and green manure, and biopesticides can be a sustainable approach in achieving the crop productivity along with nourishing the soil and environment. Present chapter discusses about the effects of Green Revolution on soil health in India and suggests for consideration of techniques with eco-friendly approaches to heal soil loss and to manage soil fertility for sustainable agriculture.

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