The Effects of Soil Degradation to Sustainable Agriculture

Yunying Fang^*
*Correspondence: Yunying Fang, Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle NSW 2568, Australia, Email:

Introduction

Since it has an impact on the food we consume every day, soil degradation is a global issue that is becoming worse. In fact, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)" announced a nationwide call to action to address soil degradation and erosion." in August as part of a global effort to improve the health of soil, a resource of utmost importance for producing enough food and fuel to feed the entire world population [1,2].

Description

Soil Deterioration

A decrease in soil quality brought on by improper use, whether for agricultural, pastoral, industrial, or urban reasons, is known as soil degradation. Degradation of the soil includes soil erosion. The loss of top soil and soil nutrients is what is meant particularly by "soil erosion." Although it can happen naturally due to wind and water activity, human activity such as deforestation and ineffective land management techniques can exacerbate the issue. Degradation of the soil and of the land is linked issues that frequently surface in the same setting. The same way that soil erosion is a part of soil degradation, so too is soil deterioration a part of land degradation.

A more general phrase for the loss of the ecosystem's capacity to produce commodities and services is "land degradation." Natural disasters, poor land management, and inappropriate land use are all potential causes. Through the application of sustainable agricultural methods and better land management practises, the impacts of soil degradation can frequently be reduced, avoided, and even reversed. Since wind and water erosion are the main causes of soil degradation, there are many approaches to manage their impacts. Wind gusts Shrubs, which are both artificial and natural windbreaks, lessen the impacts of wind on erosion. Additionally, plants "anchor" the soil, which lessens the effects of water erosion.

Increasing productivity while lowering unfavourable environmental circumstances will be the key to farming's greatest success. This can only be accomplished by introducing sustainable practises and agricultural solutions. In order to contribute to the ecological sustainability, it is crucial that agricultural methods and activities be sustainable and environmentally friendly. Sustainable agriculture has numerous definitions and interpretations. Environmental and natural agricultural resources must be better protected through sustainable agricultural systems and practises in order to enable the production of sufficient quantities of nutritious food at reasonable prices for the world's expanding population. It is not a goal to be completely self-sufficient for sustainable agriculture [3-5].

Conclusion

Agriculture refers to all labour performed on soil in order to produce goods and raise the useful and required plants and animals for human survival. Water resources should be maintained, soil should be developed, and original seeds should be saved and recreated for the future in order to meet the expanding agricultural needs in a healthy way. Additionally, consideration must be given to increasing soil fertility, safeguarding water, safeguarding priceless seeds, and preserving biodiversity. It's necessary to have long-term efficiency and stability. One of the top priorities that should be placed on the protection of agriculture is to apply each application in the simplest, most affordable, and shortest manner possible. The terms traditional, organic, industrial, ecological, smart, and integrated generally refer to a wide range of techniques, each of which is distinct from the others. The major goals of sustainable agriculture are to boost soil productivity and lessen the negative consequences of agricultural activities on the environment, human health, soil, water, and climate, utilises renewable resources to create production while reducing the use of non-renewable sources and inputs from petroleum-based products. It primarily concentrates on the wants, information, abilities, and sociocultural values of the locals.

References

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