Soils are the foundation for food production and various other ecological functions. Sustainable soil management has been found to help with food production, nutrient content, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Food production will dramatically increase inputs into agricultural production systems due to expanding population, resulting in vastly increased opportunities for environmental contamination, degradation, and depletion of natural and non-renewable resources. (Power, 1996). 

Our soils ultimately decide human health since they are the primary medium for food and fiber production and primary contact with the environment, impacting the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink. Soil quality and human and environmental health are inextricably linked. As a result, the state of our soil resources is a crucial indicator of our land management strategies' long-term viability.

We must move now to build production systems that rely less on non-renewable, petrochemical-based resources, rely more on renewable resources from the sun for our food, fiber, and energy requirements, and achieve the ecological intensification required to satisfy future food demand. (Cassman, 1999). 

To attain the numerous economic, ecological, and environmental sustainability aims, improved cooperation with natural processes for satisfying our food and energy demands would almost certainly necessitate some lifestyle changes.

Importance of Healthy soil

The soil is home to a complex population of creatures that help to enhance soil structure, recycle essential nutrients, and control weeds, pests, and diseases. Another critical consideration is that good soil contributes to climate change mitigation by retaining or growing soil organic carbon.

Healthy soil is at the heart of sustainable land management for agricultural production because it reduces external inputs, reduces nutrient losses to the environment, increases the number of days the soil can be worked and has a pore structure that maximizes water retention and drainage wet weather.

Soil health encompasses the physical, chemical, and biological features, but biological indicators are the least well advanced. Sustainability also implies the balanced provision of ecosystem services, which can be more challenging to measure than single indicators. 

Vermi- compost application to soil maintains its fertility and health, making it more suitable for crop production, and decreasing dependency on chemicals.  

The soil beneath our feet is not often given the credit it deserves. It sustains the lives of many living species and keeps the earth alive. We celebrate World Soil Day because the soil provides a home for these tiny organisms, supplying nutrients to the soil. This symbiotic interaction results in a sustainable environment that seven billion people call home.

The Theme for World Soil Day 5th December 2021 is 'Halt soil salinization, boost soil productivity which Aim is to Inspire governments, organizations, and isolated populations to care for the soil. 

Soil salinization and modification are key soil degradation processes that threaten ecosystems and are widely acknowledged as one of the most pressing worldwide issues affecting agricultural production, food security, and sustainability in arid and semi-arid areas. The campaign "Halt soil salinization, boost soil productivity" aims to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being by addressing the growing challenges in soil management, combating soil salinization, increasing soil awareness, and encouraging societies to improve soil health.

 Bhagyashree Hatti
M. Tech (Food Technology)
Quality Assurance and R&D