Boosting soil fertility to prevent soil degradation

Soil degradation presents a serious threat to food production, but there are ways to prevent it by improving soil fertility with methods such as adding organic matter and practising crop rotation.

- Janine Ryan

The importance of soil in agriculture is perhaps one of the most overlooked facets of food production. Members of the public who are not involved in agriculture tend to focus on climate change and weather-related matters as the biggest crises facing agriculture and sustainable food production, while soil and soil health are often ignored. However, as many farmers know, soil health is essential for optimal crop and livestock production.

According to Jane Wakefield, a technology reporter for the BBC, more than half of the world’s agricultural soil is degraded. This is obviously dire news for the future of food production. She adds that in India, a country with one of the highest farmer suicide rates, soil degradation is one of the factors (alongside farming debt) that has “led to the shocking statistic of nearly 30 people in the farming sector taking their own lives, on average, every day”.

When you consider the importance of soil and soil health, this statistic makes sense. Soil is a critical component for food production due to its essential roles in providing nutrients, supporting plant growth, and fostering a healthy ecosystem.

FAST FACTS

• Soil degradation is often ignored when it comes to threats to agriculture and food production. 
• Healthy, fertile soil is essential for crop yield.
• Soil degradation does not happen overnight, and using improper practices over years may leave farmers with poor soils that cannot be revitalised.

A RESERVOIR FOR NUTRIENTS