Our study Globally, agriculture is the main driver for about 80% of the existing degradation due to erosion [13]. What is soil degradation in agriculture? Soil degradation implies a need for protection, maintenance and improvement of soil quality. Thus, soil conservation is vital to the achievement of food security, poverty reduction and environmental sustainability in the country (Woldeamlak, 2007). The study was undertaken to examine the effect of land degradation on agricultural activities in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta state. 1.2 Meat Consumption and Cattle Grazing. 2001) Land is the finite resource which is devoted to the largest primary Private Industry namely, agriculture. Soil erosion is a result of poor farming practices which cause removal of The result is that the rural poor located on marginal and low productivity agricultural land typically employ traditional farming methods, earn negligible land rents or profits, face inse- cure tenure arrangements, endure severe land degradation, and have inadequate access to transport, infrastructure and markets (1,5,10-14). Soil compaction, also known as soil structure degradation, is the increase of bulk density or decrease in porosity of soil due to externally or internally applied loads. Two Causes of Soil Degradation. the extent and effect ofland degradation. Soil loss indices computed from the soil loss equation are used as input data in the yield damage function which relates the change in agricultural output to the loss of topsoil and a set of control variables (Walker and Young, 1986; van Vuuren, 1986, Frye, 1987). Soil Erosion is a common term that is often confused with soil degradation as a whole, but in fact refers only to absolute soil losses in terms of topsoil and nutrients. Degradation is typically associated with human land use activities that affect erosion, decomposition, leaching, nutrient imbalance and soil organic matter (SOM), and with the suppression or elimination of soil biota through strategic management practices. When a soil is wetter than the plastic limit, it may become seriously compacted if tilled or trafficked because soil aggregates are pushed together into a smeared, dense mass. Some other causes of Soil degradation can be given below; Misuse or excess use of fertilizers. In addition, land degradation directly affected the type of plant grown on the area, reduced availability of potable water, lessened volumes of surface water, depletion of aquifers and Soil resource degradation is one of the major challenges in agricultural production in many parts of the world, especially in developing nations, such as 2.2. 11.1 Sub-Sahara Africa farming systems. Land, Gujarat, Degradation, Water, Deforestation, Population, Agriculture. The degradation of soil quality due to cropping is of particular concern in tropical regions, where it results in a loss of productive potential of the land, affecting regional food security and driving conversion of non-agricultural land, such as forestry, to agriculture (Lambin et al. Land degradation can exacerbate climate change and threaten agricultural productivity, water quality, biodiversity, sustainable development, and the living conditions of humans and wildlife, among other effects. Regular updates and information on degraded land is essential for the Government to plan necessary measures to tackle degradation processes and to plan for reclamation programmes. This vicious circle is a primary cause of desertification and the loss of agricultural land. It is a serious environmental problem. Our soil is affected by erosion and intensive agriculture: 192 million tonnes of soil are lost every year from erosion 44 percent of this is from pasture. 2 Table 1: Soil degradation statistics (million hectares) Types 1994 1997 Soil erosion 162.4 167.0 Salt affected soils 10.1 11.0 Water logging 11.6 13.0 Shifting cultivation NA 9.0 Total 175.0 187.8 Sehgal and Abrol (1994) Government programmes introduced for Soil Conservation Year Programme / Policies Special features Restoration of ecological Soil Degradation in India: Causes, Major Threats, and Management Options Milkha S. Aulakh1 and Gurjant S. Sidhu2 1Banda University of Agriculture & Technology, Banda, U.P., India; e-mail: msaulakh2004@yahoo.co.in 2National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, New Delhi Summary: Soil degradation; which causes decline in soils productivity, deterioration in Compaction Compaction is where soil particles pack together increasing soil density and reducing pore space. Globally, a third of our land is degraded, affecting 3 billion people, and it is expected to worsen with rising demand for food. This is indeed the most visible effect of soil degradation, but does not cover all of its aspects. Economically, some estimates put the economically loss that land and soil degradation is responsible for at tens of billions of dollars worldwide annually. 11.1 ). Management The starting points to avoiding soil compaction are: minimise cultivation; avoid working soils when wet; reduce and control traffic, and Agriculture and Land degradation Agriculture is the dominant sector of the Ethiopian economy, with 85% of the population living in the rural areas. 2.3 Causes a Vicious Cycle of Flood and Drought. 2003 669; Drescher et al. The environmental impact of soil degradation on agriculture, especially on arable crop production involves a variety of factors from the soil, to water, the air, animal and soil diversity, people, plants and the food itself. 2. EFFECTS OF LAND DEGRADATION. An accurate assessment of soil erosion is needed to reduce the problem of soil loss in highly fragile mountainous areas. Soil degradation 2. 6 CONCLUSION: SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES 43. Unless there is something done to fix the environmental effects of current farming practices, it is estimated that within 20 years, one third of arable land will be lost. What can I do to reduce land pollution?Use bio-fertilisers. A bio-fertiliser is a substance containing living microorganisms. Reduce your toxic waste levels. Chemical and oil spills do occur in the areas that are most synonymous with soil pollution (i.e. Reduce your waste in general. Recycle your waste. Use natural soil additives. This degradation leads to a phenomenon which is the disappearance of nutrients and minerals needed for plant growth. 2. The excessive use and misuse of fertilizers kill organisms that assist in binding Industrial and Mining activities. Impact of Modern Agriculture on Soil: Land degradation refers to a decline in the overall quality of soil, water or vegetation condition commonly caused by human activities. (Source: Dixon et al. Soil quality testing shows 2 out of 7 indicators give reason for concern, with 48 percent of tested sites outside the target range for phosphorus content and macroporosity. Evidence shows womens share as agricultural land holders vary from 0.8% in Saudi Arabia to 51% in Cabo Verde, with an overall global average estimated at 12.8% (UNCCD, 2020a). A decline in soil quality, productivity, and usefulness due to natural causes, human activities, or both, is known as soil degradation. This in turn increases the pressure put on productive land, which results in its degradation. 3. Avoiding soil degradation is crucial to our well-being. 1.1 Industrialization of Agriculture. Land degradation and the sustainability of agricultural production in Nigeria: A review A. S. Ajayi Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. According to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), a third of the worlds soil is now moderately to highly degraded. The present study aimed to assess spatial soil Management The starting points to avoiding soil compaction are: minimise cultivation; avoid working soils when wet; reduce and control traffic, and 5.4 EXPANDING ENERGY ACCESS 40. Land degradation destroys the landscape for farming activities. 2.1 Human Health Deteriorates. mi (16 million sq. Our study On the global basis, the soil degradation is caused primarily by overgrazing (35%), agricultural activities (28%), deforestation (30%), overexploitation of land to produce fuelwood (7%), and industrialization (4%). We validated the use of coulombs transferred between the active cell circuit and ground as an index for quantitatively predicting degradation rate in the field for two thin-film module types undergoing potential-induced degradation (PID). The dependence When a land is degraded, it affects every agricultural activity on the land. Soil degradation erodes the overall resource base for agriculture. Land degradation leads to poor crop yield. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select six communities mostly affected by land degradation and a total of sixty respondents (farmers) was use for the study. 1 Soil structure in a healthy soil allows for both movement and retention of water and nutrients, as well as providing space for root growth. The use of conventional agricultural practices, including intensive tillage based on the removal of crop residue, has magnified soil erosion and soil degradation. However, deforestation and forest degradation due to the high demand for fuelwood has reduced forest cover and diversity, with unknown consequences for associated terrestrial carbon stocks in this LCF system. Nature and extent of land degradation in India. The degradation or deterioration of soil may be caused by the following factors: 1. Land degradation causes leaching. Soil degradation is the loss of lands production capacity in terms of loss of soil fertility, soil biodiversity, and degradation. 5.3 THE ROLES OF THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS 38. loss of fertile top soil due to water or wind erosion. A study of 82 sites in 21 counties by Iowa State University showed that in the 50 years from 1959, soil structure and levels of organic matter had degraded while acidity had increased. These activities lead to land degradation through oil spillage, erosion and pollution which led to shortage of agricultural land (Orji, Ugwumba and Ugo, 2006). It also decreases soil permeability, aeration, water holding capacity, drainage, seedling emergence and root exploration. Background. Report on the project 'Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Conservation (SoCo)' Agriculture occupies a substantial proportion of the European land, and consequently plays an important role in maintaining natural resources and cultural landscapes, a precondition for other human activities Received 3 June, 2015; Accepted 17 July, 2015 Human-induced soil degradation that results from erosion, losses of organic matter, plant nutrients and Impact of soil erosion on agriculture. Some per ceivethat land degradation poses a potential threatto global food supplies over the long term (Pimentel et al. The basic factors causing soil erosion-induced degradation are wind and water erosion ( ommegaonline.org) Wind and water weathering removes small amounts of the top soil from farming land Deforestation, Logging & Clearing Of Land Forest land can be cleared and converted to land to be used for agricultural production. 10) elaborate on this topic. Scientists recently warned that 24 billion tons of fertile soil was being lost per year, largely due to unsustainable agriculture practices. In the last few decades, soil degradation has been sped up by intensive farming practices like deforestation, overgrazing, intensive cultivation, forest fires and construction work. Definitions. Agriculture provides about 52% of the country =s GDP, 80% of its employment, and 90% of its export earnings (World Bank, 2000; CIA, 2001). Soil degradation (physical, biological, chemical) is unfavorable process, resulting in the soil losing its organic matter - humus accumulated earlier, leading towards decrease of soil fertil- About a third of the world's soil has already been degraded, Maria-Helena Semedo of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) told a forum marking World Soil Day. While soil degradation is a natural process, it can also be caused by human activity. Introduction. Combating desertification, land degradation, and droughts can win socio-economic benefits for people in drylands and reduce climate change impacts. agricultural land use, the results show that agricultural management in Iran needs special attention to reach sustainable conditions. Soil degradation is one the key areas in which agriculture impacts upon ecology. This book series highlights the urgency of maintaining healthy soil for human life on earth with categorical in-depth detailing of its concepts for translating science to practice. requirement to keep agricultural land in good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC) (fact sheet no. Erosion (wind and water) Loss of SOM (also referred to as carbon, soil carbon, and soil organic matter) Nutrient imbalance Salinization Surface sealing Loss of soil biodiversity Contamination Acidification Compaction Waterlogging It is often caused by unfavorable alterations in one or all of a soils physical, chemical, and biological attributes. This results is depletion, erosion, modification or disturbance of the soil that is considered harmful or undesirable. 5 Improved soil management can also boost yields in some circumstances, enhancing food security and improving producers bottom lines. Higher soil erosion results in the removal of fertile topsoil along with nutrients which leads to reduced agronomic yield, land degradation, and terrain deformation [25, 26, 27]. Most degraded soils contain an SOC pool that is below their potential set by ecological factors. Where there is a limited use of external farm inputs because of low capacity to invest in farm improvement, continuous cultivation results in low and declining crop yields and an inability to attend to other farm production Land degradation is the common environmental problem in Ethiopia. The corn field agricultural soils were polluted by four NEOs, among them THD had greater contamination level (surface soil: 3901.2 0.04 g/g) and (sub-surface soil: 3988.6 ENDNOTES 45. Many practices reduce erosion, retain soil moisture, limit the need for fertiliser and increase resilience to drought. Broader Land degradation Hazards to plants Unsustainable agricultural development The East-African lowland coastal forest (LCF) is one of Africa’s centres of species endemism, representing an important biodiversity hotspot. 45% out of the Total Geographical Area (TGA) of 328 mha, followed by 175 mha by the Ministry of Agriculture (Soil and Water Conservation Division). Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 5.2 OUTGROWER OPPORTUNITIES 37. 5.1 IMPLICATIONS FOR RURAL LIVELIHOODS 35. Soils are a fundamental natural resource, and are the basis for all terrestrial life. If a soil is used too intensively or in an appropriate way, its function declines and it starts to degrade (Fig. The accelerated soil erosion significantly influences the soil quality, agricultural production and nutritional quality . An estimated 2025% of soils worldwide are already affected by serious degradation and more than 8 million hectares degrade each year (Soil Atlas 2015 ). The Four Effects of Soil Degradation. Six of the soil degradation processes recognised at European Union (EU) level are closely linked to agriculture. The Hidden Costs of Land Degradation in U.S. Maize Agriculture. It also decreases soil permeability, aeration, water holding capacity, drainage, seedling emergence and root exploration. 6.1 AN AGENDA FOR FURTHER INQUIRY 44. The earliest assessment of the area affected by the land degradation was made by the National Commission on Agriculture in 1976 at 148 M ha i.e. The East-African lowland coastal forest (LCF) is one of Africa’s centres of species endemism, representing an important biodiversity hotspot. Compaction can adversely affect nearly all physical, chemical and biological properties and functions of soil. Soil degradation, especially that caused by accelerated erosion, characteristically involves depletion of soil organic matter. Trafficking (by animals as well as by vehicles) and cultivation are the primary causes of this form of soil degradation. Get Started with NRCS. Soil degradation causes include agricultural, industrial, and commercial pollution; loss of arable land due to urban expansion, overgrazing, and unsustainable agricultural practices; and long-term climatic changes. Photograph of a compacted zone of soil immediately below the plough layer in a cropping soil. The main reasons for this are the trampling by cattle, the transit of agricultural machinery and the handling of the soil in inadequate conditions of humidity. Long-term soil fertility is on the decline in agricultural lands around the world due to salinization, acidification, erosion and the loss of important nutrients in the soil such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Addressing soil degradation in EU agriculture: relevant processes, practices and policies. 5. You can reduce soil erosion by:Maintaining a healthy, perennial plant cover.Mulching.Planting a cover crop such as winter rye in vegetable gardens.Placing crushed stone, wood chips, and other similar materials in heavily used areas where vegetation is hard to establish and maintain. Soil is mainly polluted by industrial and mining activities. Soil degradation is the decline in soil condition caused by its improper use or poor management, usually for agricultural, industrial or urban purposes. Fig. Land Degradation Mapping Land degradation is temporary or permanent degeneration of productivity of land due to physical, chemical or biological factors. Soil erosion is a major concern for the environment and natural resources leading to a serious threat to agricultural productivity and one of the major causes of land degradation in the mid-hills region of Nepal. Impact of Modern Agriculture on Soil: Land degradation refers to a decline in the overall quality of soil, water or vegetation condition commonly caused by human activities. However, due to the public good characteristics of soil quality, the market does not sufficiently assure its provision. Such approaches to agriculture deplete the soil and are not sustainable. The point between plastic and friable soil, the plastic limit, has important agricultural implications. Soil degradation processes, soil-friendly farming practices (or systems) and soil-relevant policies are interrelated. As a signatory to the In India, 53 percent of land is estimated to be affected by soil erosion and land degradation and 83 percent is affected by water and wind erosion. 2.2 The Organic Matter in Soil Decreases. Login to farmers.gov. Loss of croplands encourages farmers to overuse the remaining agricultural land and to move into forests and onto rangelands. Apply for NRCS Assistance. With global warming, the vicious circle is now intensifying. depletion of nutrients or the toxicity due to acidity or alkalinity (salinization) or water logging. Soil Health. This approach is mostly not feasible in developing countries. It is one of the major causes of low and declining agricultural productivity and continuing food insecurity and rural poverty. One effect of land and soil degradation is lost productivity/yield on agricultural land, and some estimates indicate that productivity may have reduced by 20% to 30% in some regions. Economically, some estimates put the economically loss that land and soil degradation is responsible for at tens of billions of dollars worldwide annually. Land Degradation and Its Causes Proper soil management is a ba-sis for societys long term social and economic development. In Africa, millions are surviving on land with diminished and declining productivity. Structural degradation of the soil most commonly refers to compaction, the compression of soil particles so that the space Conservation Client Gateway. The rise and fall of ancient civilizations were in direct proportion to the wise use or misuse respectively of the natural resources, in particular, land and water resources. 8), agri-environment measures (fact sheet no. Soil is quite literally at the root of food production and according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), soil degradation is one of The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of land degradation on agricultural land use, planning and management in chongwe, Zambia and specifically determined farmers considerations of land suitability for selected types of agricultural land uses in varying cropping zones, investigated farmers local environmental knowledge of land degradation indicators and finally Soil Degradation. 1995; Brown and Kane 1994), while others argue that land degradation is overestimated and, in any event, relatively unimportantto global food supplies (Crosson 1994). Physical factors, e.g. Soil degradation is just but one of the constraints to food crop production in SSA smallholder agriculture but a root cause of persistent cycles of rural poverty. One effect of land and soil degradation is lost productivity/yield on agricultural land, and some estimates indicate that productivity may have reduced by 20% to 30% in some regions. When land is degraded, soil carbon and nitrous oxide is released into the atmosphere, making land degradation one of the most important contributors to climate change. Land degradation also has serious knock-on effects for humans, such as malnutrition, disease, forced migration, cultural damage, and even war. 5 INCREASING THE BENEFITS OF AGRO-INDUSTRIAL FDI 35. The degradation comes from several sources but it is mainly from extensive agriculture. Soil degradation due to erosion is a serious global problem in general and in developing countries in particular as the majority of the people heavily depends on improper use of natural resources. Earth's Future, 2020; DOI: 10.1029/2020EF001641; Cite This Page: MLA; APA; Chicago; University of The photo degradation (PD), biodegradation (BD) and photo-biodegradation (PBD) of THD were compared. A locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 2.4 Lack of Food Can Cause Civil Strife. Land degradation affects about 300 million hectares of land in Latin America, as a result of soil erosion, loss of nutrients, deforestation, overgrazing and poor management of agricultural land (UNEP/ISRIC 1991). However, deforestation and forest degradation due to the high demand for fuelwood has reduced forest cover and diversity, with unknown consequences for associated terrestrial carbon stocks in this LCF system. Soil structure refers to the arrangement of mineral and organic soil particles and the spaces between them. 6.2 million sq. The implication of land degradation due to erosion causes loss of soil nutrient. Yet given that more than 80 percent of the worlds farms operate on less than two hectares of land, their participation is critical to a nature-positive agricultural system. 9) and advisory services (fact sheet no. Since we arent going to stop eating meat, its highly recommended that we change our grazing practices. Irrigation practices need to be modernized to tackle land degradation. We need to stick to organic sources to improve soil fertility and productivity. More items Land degradation may have significant adverse effects, particularly in developing countries (Scherr and Yadav, 1996; Rosegrant and Ringler, 1997). Chemical factors e.g. Ethiopia =s Total direct cost of land degradation (Rs billion) 75.2 - 448.6 Apart from faulty agricultural activities that led to soil degradation (discussed in the next Section), other human-induced land degradation activities include: land clearing and careless management of