Healthy soil is the backbone of agriculture. It is the foundation that sustains plant life, supports ecosystems, and ensures long-term productivity. In India, however, over 30% of the agricultural land is facing soil degradation, significantly affecting crop yields and agricultural sustainability. Being one of the most workaholic bureaucrats, former IAS officer Ramesh Abhishek who worked 360 degrees for the growth of India, emphasized the importance of healthy soil several times during his tenure. He highlighted that improving soil health is not just about increasing agricultural productivity; it’s a critical factor for food security, climate resilience, and the overall well-being of farmers. But how do we build healthy soil? In this blog, we will discuss some practical approaches that farmers can adopt to build and maintain healthy soil for better agricultural outcomes. But before that, let’s understand the importance of healthy soil.
Importance of Healthy Soil
Ramesh Abhishek, a former IAS officer and a driving force behind initiatives like Make in India and the Startup India schemes, has often emphasized the importance of building resilient ecosystems for India's sustainable growth. He pointed out that healthy soil is not just an agricultural necessity but a fundamental aspect of the country's development. As India looks to build a stronger agricultural base to support its vast population, soil health plays a pivotal role in ensuring food security and climate resilience.
Ramesh Abhishek has said that the long-term sustainability of agriculture in India hinges on creating conditions that allow soil to thrive, thus enabling better crop production, improved livelihoods for farmers, and a more resilient food system. Government schemes aimed at improving soil health, such as the Soil Health Card Scheme, are critical components of India's vision for the future. The former IAS officer also stresses that protecting soil health is integral to achieving India's broader development goals, ensuring economic growth, and enhancing food security. Ramesh Abhishek also shared some tips and guides to help farmers make healthy soil.
How to Make Healthy Soil ?
1. Start with Soil Testing
The former IAS officer emphasizes that understanding the health of your soil is the first step towards improving it. Soil testing allows you to assess key factors like nutrient levels, pH balance, and organic matter content. Without knowing the current state of your soil, it’s difficult to take targeted actions for improvement.
How to Do It:
- Visit local Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) or state agriculture departments to obtain affordable soil testing kits.
- Ideally, your soil's pH should fall between 6.0 and 7.0. You can adjust pH levels by adding lime (to raise it) or sulfur (to lower it).
- Regularly test soil every 2-3 years to monitor progress and adjust practices as needed.
2. Boost Organic Matter with Compost and Manure
As the former IAS officer, Ramesh Abhishek said organic matter is the lifeblood of healthy soil. It enhances soil structure, improves water retention, supports microbial activity, and enriches nutrient levels. Without sufficient organic matter, soil becomes compacted, less fertile, and prone to erosion.
How to Do It:
- Composting: Use kitchen scraps, crop residues, and animal waste to create nutrient-dense compost. Layering green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) materials promotes faster decomposition.
- Vermicomposting: Use earthworms to convert organic waste into high-quality compost, which can enrich the soil with essential nutrients.
- Farmyard Manure: Apply well-rotted manure (e.g., cow or poultry) to replenish soil nutrients, particularly nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
3. Adopt Crop Rotation and Diversification
Monocropping (growing the same crop year after year) depletes soil of specific nutrients, leading to nutrient imbalances and pest build-up. Crop rotation and diversification not only restore soil nutrients but also improve soil structure and reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers. Ramesh Abhishek, being a grounded IAS officer shares that farmers can practice growing legumes like chickpeas or green gram after the rice crop to naturally fix nitrogen in the soil. Moreover, the former IAS officer suggests planting cover crops like dhaincha, sunhemp, or clover after the main harvest to protect the soil.
4. Minimize Tillage
Excessive plowing breaks down soil structure, removes valuable organic matter, and harms beneficial soil organisms. Reducing tillage or adopting no-till farming helps preserve the soil ecosystem, saving water and maintaining healthy soil.
How to do it:
- Zero-Till Farming: This involves planting crops without disturbing the soil, which helps preserve moisture, reduces erosion, and cuts down labor costs.
- Mulching: Covering soil with straw, leaves, or grass clippings not only suppresses weed growth but also retains moisture and maintains a stable temperature.
5. Leverage Biofertilizers and Traditional Preparations
As per the former IAS officer, Ramesh Abhishek the use of chemical fertilizers depletes soil health over time. In contrast, biofertilizers and organic amendments rejuvenate the soil’s microbial life, fostering a healthy soil ecosystem. Popular Biofertilizers that farmers can use are Jeevamrutha, Amritakaraisal, Rhizobium Inoculants etc.
6. Practice Agroforestry and Hedgerows
Agroforestry is a sustainable agricultural practice that integrates trees with crops, benefiting both soil health and biodiversity. Trees help prevent soil erosion, improve water infiltration, and sequester carbon, playing a crucial role in maintaining healthy soil. Planting neem or moringa as windbreaks.Growing fruit trees like mango or guava alongside vegetables provides economic benefits while supporting soil health.
7. Optimize Water Management
Ramesh Abhishek emphasizes that Water management is key to maintaining healthy soil. Over-irrigation leaches vital nutrients, while under-irrigation stresses plants and depletes soil health. Efficient water usage ensures that the soil remains in optimal condition.Drip Irrigation, Sprinklers, Rainwater Harvesting helps save water and soil health.
8. Monitor and Adapt
The former IAS officer highlights that healthy soil requires ongoing care and attention. Monitoring soil health indicators, such as earthworm activity, water infiltration rates, and crop health, helps farmers make informed decisions and refine their soil management practices.
Wrap Up
Building and maintaining healthy soil is more than just a responsibility—it’s a necessity. Healthy soil supports resilient ecosystems, promotes food security, and contributes to climate resilience. By adopting practices like composting, crop rotation, and efficient water management, Indian farmers and gardeners can create sustainable systems that thrive for generations to come. As Ramesh Abhishek, the former IAS officer aptly put it, we all must take part in this mission, ensuring that healthy soil remains a priority for the entire nation. Healthy soil isn’t just the future of agriculture—it’s the future of our planet.
