Soil Degradation vs Soil Retrogression: A Review

Abstract

Soil is a critical resource for the future of humanity. India’s total geographical area (328.7 Mha) is projected to be degraded by 147 million hectares (Mha). This is particularly concerning because India is home to 18 per cent of the world’s population but only has 2.4 per cent of the world’s land area. Soil degradation is characterized as processes that cause soil quality to deteriorate and make it less suitable for a specific purpose, such as crop production. Soil erosion, a degradation process, can take place anywhere from a few years to centuries and this changes the soil’s composition and humus content. The process of soil retrogression is pedogenically induced and it is caused by the loss of nitrogen, ecosystem efficiency and standing plant biomass and it can only be reversed by a rejuvenating disruption that resets the mechanism. Retrogression occurs over time scales ranging from thousands to millions of years. The decrease in biomass over long time scale distinguishes retrogression from degradation. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) developed the conceptual framework for Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), to provide a scientific approach to planning, implementing and monitoring LDN. Soil retrogression and degradation are two regressive processes. It is critical to prioritize soil health in decisions taken to tackle deterioration and the value of soil as the source and destination of everything should be reaffirmed once more.