Soil is more than just dirt beneath our feet—it is a living ecosystem, the foundation of our food security, and the most critical natural resource for sustaining life. Healthy soil is the bedrock of productive agriculture, resilient ecosystems, and ultimately, the prosperity of millions of farmers who depend on it.
Yet, despite decades of agricultural advances, soil health in India remains under stress. Indian soils face unique challenges, with degradation affecting 31.5 to 166.1 million hectares primarily due to water erosion and chemical mismanagement. The government has made notable strides through the Soil Health & Fertility Scheme and the Soil Health Card (SHC) initiative, but much more needs to be done to translate policy into practice on the ground.
Launched in 2015, the Soil Health and Fertility Scheme marked a transformative step in mainstreaming soil science into agricultural policy. Since its inception, over 25.17 crore Soil Health Cards have been issued to farmers across the country, providing key soil fertility data. Over 1,200 soil testing labs and numerous mobile units are now operative nationwide. Evidence suggests SHC-based fertiliser recommendations have increased crop yields—wheat by 30.8 per cent, paddy by 29.8 per cent, sugarcane by 32.9 per cent, and Bengal gram by 44 per cent.
These cards provide scientific insights on soil nutrient status—covering pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, macro-nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulphur, as well as micro-nutrients like zinc, copper, iron, manganese, and boron. Multi-nutrient deficiency is well documented, with up to 59 per cent of soils showing zinc deficiency and widespread shortages of sulphur, iron, and boron.
Advisories are shared with farmers through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Agricultural Technology Management Agencies (ATMA), Krishi Sakhis, and Soil Testing Labs. Demonstrations, farmer trainings, and melas have been widely organised to popularise the concept of balanced fertiliser use. States like Tamil Nadu have gone a step further by adopting NABL accreditation for soil labs to ensure accuracy, while modern spectrometers (ICP/AAS) are being deployed to improve testing quality. The government’s intent is clear: promote balanced and integrated nutrient management while preventing soil degradation.
However, while the Soil Health Card scheme is laudable, multiple challenges continue to limit its impact. Many farmers still rely on traditional fertiliser practices rather than SHC advisories, with the card often becoming a document rather than a decision-making tool. Scientific data indicate that only 40 per cent of farmers own and utilise SHCs effectively, while many continue traditional practices. Despite training, small and marginal farmers frequently lack a clear understanding of scientific recommendations or access to organic inputs like bio-fertilisers.
Static and mobile labs remain unevenly distributed, and in many regions, lab capacity and timely delivery of SHCs remain bottlenecks. Pockets of saline, alkaline, acidic, or nutrient-depleted soils persist, with localised solutions not always reaching farmers quickly enough. Millions of test results are uploaded on the SHC portal, but there is limited use of this data for predictive analytics, AI-based advisories, or region-specific planning.
Soil health restoration requires a holistic, science-led approach that integrates chemistry, biology, and ecology. Integrated Nutrient Management is essential, as India’s per-hectare pesticide use, at 291 grams, is lower than China or Japan but rising, increasing toxic load and disrupting soil microflora. Efforts must combine chemical fertilisers with organic manures, crop residues, green manures, and biofertilizers to replenish micro and secondary nutrients.
Soil microbiome revival, through microbial inoculants, mycorrhizal fungi, biochar, and Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPRs), can enhance nutrient cycling, improve soil structure, and boost yield by 8 to 150 per cent across systems. Precision agriculture, using IoT, drones, and AI-enabled sensors for real-time nutrient monitoring, moisture balance, and fertiliser optimisation, can reduce wasteful application and lower environmental burden.
Problem soil reclamation is critical, as approximately 94 million hectares of arable soil in India are affected by water erosion, with annual top-soil loss estimated at 5,334 million tons (16.35 t/ha/year). Region-specific solutions, such as gypsum for sodic soils, liming for acidic soils, and organic matter enrichment for depleted soils, are urgently needed. Increasing soil organic carbon through conservation tillage, crop diversification, and agroforestry will directly improve climate resilience and productivity, aligning with India’s climate commitments.
A detailed rejuvenation strategy to restore microbial diversity—starting from the application of fermented organic preparations like panchagavya and organic amendments such as compost and vermi-compost to tailored, tested, and certified microbiomes—can mitigate the impacts of chemical overuse and strengthen the Soil Health and Fertility Scheme for real impact. Region-specific approaches are required for salinity management, nutrient imbalance, and physical degradation.
Precision application reduces fertiliser costs, increases efficiency, and curbs environmental externalities. India’s precision agriculture market is set to reach USD 99 million by the end of 2030, driven by IoT, AI, and decision support for optimal nutrient management. Collaborative platforms with IITs, startups, and research institutions for portable diagnostics, AI-predictive models, and custom nutrient blends should therefore be promoted.
Looking ahead, several forward-looking policy measures are essential. A Digital Soil Health Mission can create a national soil intelligence platform integrating SHC data, satellite imagery, AI models, and localised advisories through farmer apps in regional languages. Decentralised soil labs at the village level, managed by farmer-producer organisations, youth entrepreneurs, and women’s SHGs, can deliver real-time soil testing.
Linking SHC usage to subsidies, so that farmers who adopt balanced fertiliser use and organic inputs receive preferential access to PM-Kisan benefits, credit, and crop insurance, can incentivise sustainable practices. Farmers improving soil carbon through verified practices should be linked to carbon credits, creating additional income streams.
Expanded capacity building for Krishi Sakhis and agri-extension workers must focus on soil biology, not just chemistry, empowering farmers as true stewards of soil health. Public-private innovation must be encouraged, especially collaborations with agri-tech startups to develop more precise portable soil testing kits, AI-based predictive models, and micro-nutrient blends tailored to local needs.
India’s food security, farmer income, and environmental sustainability are inseparable from the health of its soil. The Soil Health Card scheme has been an ambitious beginning, but the next decade must focus on deep adoption, decentralised action, and data-driven decisions.
By combining scientific innovation, strong policy push, and farmer-centric delivery, India can transform its soils into living assets that feed the nation, store carbon, and empower farmers. As the saying goes: “The health of the soil is the health of the nation.” Strengthening soil health is not just an agricultural agenda—it is a national imperative.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication. |
