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Sustainable Utilization of Land Resources-1
Sustainable Utilization of Land Resources-1
SOIL DEGRADATION
CAUSES OF DEGRADATION
KINDS OF DEGRADATION
Soil degradation
Physical
Chemical
fertility imbalance
Elemental
acidification
Sodification
Toxic compounds
Biological
Among the physical degradation processes, soil erosion is the major process responsible
for soil degradation. Water erosion is relatively more important in semiarid regions and wind
erosion in arid regions. Recommended soil conservation measures are:
Water Erosion
Agronomic measures
i. Preference to erosion resistant crops such as legumes and other ground smothering crops,
ii. Tillage practices to improve water intake into the soil and reduce surface runoff,
iii. Counter cultivation (ploughing, sowing and inter cultivation across the slop)
iv. Strip cropping of erosion resisting and erosion permitting grain crops,
v. Application of heavy dose of bulky organic manures including mulching.
Mechanical Measures
Forestry Measures
Wind erosion
iii. Minimum tillage with rough soil surface to prevent wind erosion,
iv. Stubble mulching,
v. Cover crops,
vi. Mulching and
vii. Wind breaks and shelterbelts
Compaction is usually caused by the use of heavy farm machinery. Crusting and sealing,
however, results from the impact of rain drops if the soil is not well protected. Soil compaction
and sealing inhibit water infiltration into the soil and exchange of gasses between the soil and
atmosphere. Small seeded crops, grasses and vegetables are particularly sensitive to soil crusting.
i. Mechanical deep ploughing and sub-soiling to improve water infiltration into soil,
ii. Sand application up to 50 t ha-1 to improve water and air permeability,
iii. Profile inversion of sub-surface soil horizons contain gypsum,
iv. Leaching with good quality water and draining the profile to remove excess soluble salts
constitutes hydrothermal processes of physical amelioration.
B) Chemical Amelioration
i. Rice should be the major crop of acid soils as it has greater degree of tolerance to acidity,
ii. Application of lime
iii. Legumes, cotton, maize, sorghum, wheat and linseed respond to lime application, and
iv. Tree species such as sesbania is also affective.
i. Forest systems add larger and more amount of organic matter to the soil than grass land
systems, which in turn, provide greater amounts than crop production systems,
ii. Green manures
iii. Crop residues
iv. F.Y.M
v. Poultry manure
Biological processes are central to soil fertility and productivity and sustainability of agro-
ecosystem. The number of organisms varies greatly depending on food supply, moisture,
temperature, physical condition and reaction of the soil.
Composting is certainly a way to reduce off farm inputs on your farm, if you have animals. If
you do not, there are usually plenty of places willing to get rid of their waste. I have listed below
an introductory publication on composting manure. It will provide you with some basic tips on
how to get started on this process for your farm, including carbon to nitrogen ratios, materials
that compost well, placement, etc. Also listed is the Rodale Institute’s “Making and using
compost at The Rodale Institute Farm,” from their web site New Farm. They provide a good on-
farm example and recommendations for developing a compost system on your farm, including
methods of turning and sources of materials.
Some other useful resources to consider are “The On-Farm Composting Handbook” and the
“Field Guide to On-Farm Composting.” These are practical handbooks which present a thorough
overview of farm-scale composting and explain how to produce and use it. The information on
where and how to obtain these books is listed below under “Further Resources.”
1. SUSTAINABLE UTILIZATION OF AGRO-BIODIVERSITY
Agro-biodiversity includes genetic diversity of plants, livestock, fisheries and microbes, insects,
fungi and viruses. Agro-biodiversity is basic to farming systems in which farmers can exploit
biological diversity to produce and manage crop, land, water, insects and other biota.
Increased productivity, food security and economic returns through diversified products
and income opportunities,
Making farming systems more stable and sustainable,
Soil conservation and productivity,
Conserving ecosystem structure and stability of species diversity,
Eco friendly management of insects, pests, diseases and weeds,
Reduced dependence on external inputs,
Reduced pressure of agriculture on fragile areas, forests, and
Providing different sources of human nutrition.
Maximize biodiversity on the farm
- Integrate crop and livestock production
- Use hedgerows, insectary plants, cover crops and water reservoirs to attract and support
populations of beneficial insects, bats and birds
- Abandon monocropping in favour of crop rotation, intercropping and companion planting
- Plant a percentage of land in trees and other perennial crops in permanent plantings or
long term rotation
- Manage pastures to support a diverse selection of forage plants
- Plant off-season cover crops
b) Ex-situ organic manuring
Plenty of organic waste from agriculture, animals and humans rich in plant nutrients requiring
safe disposal is available in improving soil health leading to sustained crop production. Sources
include.
Rural and urban waste on an average contains about 0.5-1.0% N, 0.4-0.8% P 2O5 and 0.8-1.2%
K2O.
Vermi-compost is a potential organic manure rich in plant nutrients compared to farm yard
manure rich in plant nutrients compared to farm yard manure(FYM) or other organic manures in
respect to supply of N, P and K fertilizers. Vermi-compost also contains micronutrients, certain
hormones and enzymes, which have stimulatory effect on plant growth. The vermin-compost is
rich not only in plant nutrients but also in beneficial bacteria and actinomycetes population.
Vermi-compost containing large number of earthworm eggs, which hatches out within a month
period is equivalent to mini fertilizer factory in soil. They eat biomass and excrete it is digested
form generally called vermin-compost, which increases water holding capacity and reduce water
requirement of crops. The losses due to disease and insect pest also check.
In the tank about 10-15 cm layer of loam soil spread and about 5-6kg of diluted dung is also
sprayed and available earthworms may be placed. Dry leaves is put on vermibed and kept moist
for 3-4 weeks. Every fourth day a 10cm layer of straw, leaves of plants, kitchen waste and salt
etc. is placed on the bed and continue till the pit is full. Waste paper and liquid dung used to
cover pit and finally covered with gunny cloth. It needs watering, every day to keep sufficiently
moist after 30 days, the garbage is turned up and down and again covered with same and
watering is maintained for another month or so. At maturation watering is stopped to ensure
drying of compost and inducing the worms to migrate to verbed. The earthworms feed on
decaying organic matter and digested food comes out in the form of “vermicompost” within two
months. About 10 kg of casting will be produced by 1 kgs of worms. The mature compost is gray
to brown colored granular mass. After from the pit, it is sieved, dried and packed.
Benefits:-
1. Vermicompost influences the physiochemical as well as the biological properties of soil,
which in turn improves its fertility.
2. Vermicompost contains many micro-nutrients like Mg, Fe, Mo, B, Cu, Zn, etc. in addition
to some of the growth regulators.
3. It also enhances the water holding capacity of light textured sandy soil.
4. Vermicompost is rich in several micro flora, several enzymes: auxins and complex
growth regulators like gibberellins which are present in the earthworms casting.
5. Buffering action of vermicompost neutralizes soil pH and helps in availability of minerals
and trace elements more easily to crops.
6. Leaching of nutrients of chemical fertilizers in the soils is reduced considerably
especially of N fertilizers.
7. Enhance soil fertility status and reduce toxicity.
8. Enhance quality, shelf life and nutritive value of horticultural crops enabling value
addition to the produce.
9. Aluminum toxicity is a serious problem in acidic soils, which contain appreciable
quantities of Al+++ clay exchange complex. Vermicompost aqueous extract reduces the
level of Al+++ in the acid soils due to chelation.