World Soil Day 2020: All you need to know the problems that soil face, Let's strive to protect it

Soil is one of the most important natural resources of nature where all the living things and the survival of mankind depend on. Crops thrive only when the land is fertile and thus agriculture becomes profitable and make economic progress. They say if the farmer is good then all the other communities will be on the path of progress in all sectors. However, with a lack of awareness, soil and water conservation measures are becoming less common. World Soil Day has been celebrated around the world on December 5 every year since 2013 to emphasise on the preservance of the nature of the soil. In this order, various programs are being carried out to bring awareness among the people on soil and water conservation measure. While this year's campaign for the World Soil Day is to "Keep soil alive, Protect soil biodiversity' that aims to bring awareness on maintaining healthy soil.

Impact of chemical fertilizers on Soil

With the hope of higher yields as well as more commercial ideas, the farmers these days have started using chemical fertilizers and pesticides indiscriminately whether the crops needed it or not due to which change in the physical properties of the soil are changed. The lands gradually became shallow and the crops became more plentiful. Food products are high in pesticide residues and increasing air pollution endangering public health.

Apart from that, fertile soils cannot be provided for the future with the chemicals. The survival of agriculture in the near future is in danger. Agriculture and community development are possible only when water conservation measures are taken along with the soil.

Importance of Soil test

It is a quite evident many farmers face problems what crops should be grown in the land. However, the only solution to get knowledge about the types of crops to be grown on different lands is to do a soil test. Water tests should also be done at the same time and document analysis tests should be performed if necessary. The tests will tell you exactly what nutrients are in the soil, water, leaves and plants, and how much fertilizer to apply to the planted crop. This will greatly reduce the cost to farmers for purchasing fertilizers and pesticides. The ratio of micronutrients such as zinc, boron, magnesium, and iron along with nitrogen-phosphorus-potash (NP-K) should be balanced. The land becomes fertile if there is a balance in the use of fertilizers, which will prevent adverse effects on the environment and provide suitable land for future generations to cultivate crops.

Nutrients management should be undertaken

Increased use of chemical fertilizers changes the geophysical, chemical and living conditions that indicate soil and soil health. As a result, the soil is depleted and pollution problems and public health problems arise. Comprehensive nutrient management needs to be undertaken to prevent this problem from arising. Organic fertilizers, green manures, crop residues, bio-fertilizers, agro-industrial wastes and chemical fertilizers should be applied in regular proportions. Soil health can be improved by increasing the use of organic fertilizers such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry manure, vermicompost, peanut wood, neem flour, bone meal etc.

Vermicompost role in farming

Supplying nutrients to the soil is one of the major goals of a farmer. The regular addition of compost will help to increase the soil's fertility. Compost is produced by aerobic microorganisms activity, which requires oxygen, moisture, and food in order to grow and multiply. While coming to Vermicomposting, which is a process of composting using worms, usually red wigglers, white worms, and other earthworms, to form a heterogeneous mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste, bedding materials, and vermicast. It is an excellent, nutrient-rich organic fertilizer that contains. As the worms, which are used to form Vermicompost eat nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, it (Vermicompost) will be a better idea for fertilizing.