Essential technologies to improve soil health

Soil degradation is a major challenge for farmers, as poor soil health and quality impact the overall health of a crop. Fortunately, technology has provided various solutions to the problem, with a host of new tools designed to provide farmers with real-time data on their soil and crops.

- Janine Ryan reports.

Soil degradation is a decline in the overall quality and health of soil, which in turn diminishes its capacity to support plant growth and provide essential ecosystem services.

This complex problem is driven by a range of factors and has profound impacts on crop health and agricultural productivity. It is a critical issue for global food security as the world’s population continues to grow.

In terms of crop health and yields specifically, soil degradation can result in decreased yields and resilience, as degraded soil loses its ability to hold water, making crops more vulnerable to drought and extreme weather events. The loss of topsoil reduces rooting depth and water availability, leading to stunted plant growth and lower yields.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) notes that degraded land has lower productivity, directly impacting global food security.

Moreover, when the soil’s nutrient-cycling system is broken down, crops cannot access the minerals they need for healthy development. This can manifest as visible deficiencies in the plants, resulting in weaker stalks, discoloured leaves and smaller fruit. This not only affects the quantity of the harvest, but also the nutritional quality of the food produced.

Healthy soil also provides a vibrant ecosystem teeming with beneficial microorganisms that help plants resist pests and diseases. The loss of these soil organisms makes crops more vulnerable, requiring farmers to use more pesticides, which can further degrade the soil and create a vicious cycle.

TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS

The landscape of agricultural technology is rapidly evolving, with a host of new tools designed to provide farmers with granular, real-time data on their soil and crops.