Climate change, imbalance in fertiliser use kill soil’s organic carbon: ICAR study

The Hindu
The Hindu
15m ago 1 view
A study by ICAR found that climate change and improper fertilizer use are degrading soil organic carbon across India, impacting soil health and carbon credit systems.
Climate change, imbalance in fertiliser use kill soil’s organic carbon: ICAR study
A What happened
A recent study by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has highlighted the detrimental effects of climate change and unscientific fertilizer use on soil organic carbon levels in India. Analyzing over 254,000 soil samples from 620 districts, the research indicates that regions with imbalanced fertilizer application, particularly in Haryana and Punjab, show a marked decline in organic carbon. The study correlates organic carbon levels with environmental factors such as temperature, rainfall, and elevation, revealing that higher temperatures negatively impact carbon content. The researchers advocate for policy measures to promote organic carbon sequestration, balanced fertilizer use, and crop management strategies to mitigate climate change effects. Their findings underscore the importance of maintaining soil health for sustainable agriculture and effective carbon credit systems.

Key insights

  • 1

    Soil Carbon Degradation

    Unscientific fertilizer use and climate change are degrading soil organic carbon.

  • 2

    Impact of Temperature

    Higher temperatures correlate negatively with soil organic carbon levels.

  • 3

    Policy Recommendations

    ICAR suggests promoting organic carbon sequestration and balanced fertilizer application.

Takeaways

The ICAR study emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable agricultural practices to preserve soil health and mitigate climate change impacts, advocating for policy changes to support farmers in enhancing soil organic carbon.

Topics

Agriculture Public Health Climate Change