Soil provides 98.8% of our food. Plants grow from the soil, and many of these plants either end up on our plates or are consumed by animals we eat. Soil is vital for our survival. So, what is the problem with soil nutrient depletion? How can it simply harm our health and environment? Can a digital soil tester in the USA help us dig deeper into it?
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, soil erosion may reduce up to 10% of the global crop yields by 2050. That crop loss is actually equivalent to removing millions of acres of farmland. Globally, about 20% of our land is already degraded. About 52% of the agricultural land is either moderately or severely impacted by soil degradation and nutrient depletion. At this rate, most of our soil will soon be depleted of nutrients, seriously affecting our food quality, health, and well-being.
Source: Freepik
What Is Soil Nutrient Depletion?
Nutrient imbalance in soil refers to an unequal distribution of the essential nutrients in the soil, which can harm plant growth and soil health. Nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, are necessary in specific proportions for healthy plant growth. Nutrient depletion in soil occurs when essential minerals and nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace elements, are used up faster than they can be replenished. This is often a result of intensive farming practices, overuse of chemical fertilizers, soil erosion, and lack of crop rotation. When soil is depleted of nutrients, the plants grown in it also suffer, leading to lower nutritional value in our foods.
Natural vs. Human-Induced Nutrient Depletion:
While the soil nutrient losses discussed this far are natural, soil nutrient depletion refers to all soil nutrient losses through natural and human-induced processes too.
As stated in the Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, the factors of human-induced soil nutrient depletion include:
- Over-cultivation.
- Insufficient inputs of replacement nutrients.
- Inappropriate land use, poor soil management practices, and unbalanced fertilization cause accelerated soil erosion.
Why Are Nutrient Levels Declining in Our Soil?
The declining nutrient contents of our soil can be attributed to several factors like soil erosion, intensive farming practices, and overuse of the synthetic fertilizers. Soil erosion occurs when the soil is removed from the land surface due to wind, water, or other factors, taking with it all the vital nutrients. Intensive farming practices like monoculture and over-cropping, can deplete the soil of all the essential nutrients as the same crops are grown repeatedly in the same portion of the field without giving the soil time to recover. Finally, the overuse of the synthetic fertilizers can lead to an imbalance in soil nutrients, ultimately resulting in nutrient depletion.
Impacts of Soil Nutrient Imbalance:
When these nutrients are not in the right balance, it can also lead to a variety of the issues, including:
Reduced plant growth – An imbalance of the essential nutrients can limit the growth of plants, as the plant cannot take up the necessary nutrients for growth.
Soil acidification—An imbalance of essential nutrients can also result in soil acidification, reducing the availability of essential plant nutrients and decreasing soil fertility.
Changes in soil biota—An imbalance of the essential nutrients can also affect the composition of the soil biota, like microorganisms and insects, disrupting the delicate balance of the soil’s food web and reducing soil health.
Altered soil chemistry—An imbalance of essential nutrients can also alter soil chemistry, minimizing the availability of essential plant nutrients and impacting soil health.
Various factors, including over-fertilization, imbalanced use of fertilizers, soil degradation, and the losses of soil organic matter, can cause nutrient imbalance.
How Do You Prevent Soil Deterioration?
Preventing further soil deterioration can promise a better future. Many actions can be taken by humans to increase soil’s presence and fertility, including planting much more vegetation, practicing sustainable agricultural methods, and enforcing more on erosion control.
Solution 1: Increase Vegetation-
Vegetation like the crop covers and windbreaks help decrease soil erosion and keep the soil fertile and healthy. Some examples might include:
- Trees
- Flowers
- Shrubs
- Creeping plants
These plants protect the fragile topsoil by shielding it from harsh winds and rainfall. Planting vegetation also increases soil fertility by increasing plant growth, preventing weeds, and cycling the nutrients back into the earth. Introducing better crop covers is one of the most natural and advantageous ways to help avoid soil deterioration.
Solution 2: Better Agricultural Methods-
One of the prominent causes of deforestation is irresponsible agricultural methods. The best way to practice much better farming is to ensure the soil is healthy, avoid overgrazing, and use strip cropping. Strip cropping is one method of agriculture that involves cultivating a field. It is used when a slope is too steep and can improve and maintain the soil’s health to reduce the rate of decay.
Solution 3: Feed the Soil-
Feeding the soil with natural microbial products can help to further break the cycle of soil depletion. These organic, carbon-rich products also replenish and rejuvenate tired soils with a wealth of microbiology at the right time. By feeding the soil the nutrients it needs to thrive, you’ll increase the soil quality and see maximum restoration of soil nutrient depletion. Effective carbon management is critical for the living microbes to survive and thrive. Fortunately, nature always provides us with a beautiful cycle whenever we need it. Remember all of the grass clippings, and weed piles? These items serve as compost and food for the soil perfectly.
Solution 4: Enforce Erosion Control-
Although soil erosion is a naturally occurring phenomenon, it significantly influences soil deterioration. You can also start doing your part by enforcing erosion control in the backyard or for significant projects. Erosion control supplies like the blankets, mulch, seed and planting aids, wattles, and the tackifiers are excellent options to help protect deteriorating soil, significantly if the land is sloped.
In Conclusion:
Soil nutrient depletion is a major environmental issue that affects all the living things. Without fertile soil, there is no arable land for agriculture and growing crops. Available food sources may also become scarcer, and many animals or creatures may face endangerment or extinction. Humans must continue to conserve soil and prevent deterioration, which can be done by increasing vegetation, using better agricultural practices, and enforcing erosion control methods.
To learn more about how we can help drive efforts to replenish your soil, contact us at SoilOptix® now!
