History of Soil Research

Abstract

The knowledge of soil science is as old as civilization and was used even from Vedic times around 700 BC. Kautillyas’ Arthashastram (400 BC) mentioned the improvement of soil fertility and growing rice and wheat crops in the fertile Indo-Gangetic valley. Information regarding the systematic study of western agriculture dating from the fourth century is available. Studies by Robert Boyle, Francis Bacon, Arthur Young, Justus von Liebig, and Birkland–Edie and Haber, among others, on the development of soil fertility and fertilizer are remarkable. It was Vasily Dokushaev’s work in soil genesis in 1983 that the International Union of Soil Sciences recognized and led to their including soil science in International scientific society. The Nepalese history of soil science dates to 1957 when soil science was established as a unit under the Department of Agriculture to conduct soil sample analysis and soil fertility experiments. Later other units were added and gradually the number of people working in soil science increased but not sufficient. Scientists with soil science as an academic qualification are lacking in the world by 40%, Nepal has the same fate. While the national priority has been on higher food production, little thought has been given to the negative consequences of our actions, including land degradation and desertification. It is imperative that we should work hard and convince society and policy-maker that proper attention is given to restore soil fertility and soil health before it is too late, therefore, soil will continue to provide the nation with goods and sustainable services. In this chapter, we present a brief history of soil science established in Nepal and discuss how it develops with time.