Posted On: 2022-12-05 09:48:34
Soil. As we mention this word, innumerable things come to our minds. Plants and trees, crops, water, insects, caves, mountains, food, water, utensils and the refreshing smell of wet soils after the first rains. It’s mesmerising; as we see, every living organism on this earth is related to soil in one or many aspects. For some, the soil is their entire home, while for others, it is a necessary component for survival. Humans too, like other animals, get the majority of their food from soil through the trees grown in it.
It takes 200 to 400 years to form 1 cm of soil in mild climate regions. The soils that we see today on earth have been here for millions of years, and they have only increased in quantity and enhanced in quality until recent decades. Recently, you must have heard the terms, soil erosion, soil contamination, and soil pollution.
Each year, as one of the most important natural resources on Earth, human activities degrade the land that sustains us. It causes soil pollution, which has proven to be a serious issue. We do long-lasting harm and expose the soil to dangerous substances, which causes the soil's quality to decline.
Out of the total population of 8 billion on earth, 3.2 billion people are severely affected by land contamination (UNESCO)
In comparison to its current use of approximately 17 million tonnes, India will likely need 45–50 million tonnes of chemical fertilisers. It is predicted that in the years to come, soil pollution in India will significantly worsen. (Govt. of India)
A study by SRM University revealed that Chennai’s soil is the most contaminated with approximately 47,000 tonnes of e-waste found in the soil annually. The study analysed samples from six Indian cities- Goa, New Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Agra, and Chennai. The second highest contaminated land was found in a village in Bengaluru, which is home to an open dumping ground.
The earth has lost nearly 87% of the world's wetlands in the last 300 years and 54% since 1900 to land degradation. (UNCCD)
It’s shocking to know that certain bacteria from contaminated soil are responsible for about 700,000 deaths worldwide, annually.
These statistics are nerve-racking and the issues of soil contamination that are having such dreadful effects on every living being existing on earth need serious attention.
World Soil Day is an initiative of the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) to draw attention towards the significance of healthy soil to sustain life on earth. The main goal of the day is to increase public awareness of the major environmental issues that soil degradation can lead to, such as erosion, the loss of organic matter, and a drop in soil fertility. Industrialization and inadequate agricultural land management both decrease soil quality. In order to identify the significance of soil as a fundamental element of the natural system and as a crucial contributor to human well-being, the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) approved a resolution in 2002 suggesting that 5 December be observed as World Soil Day. Since the late H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand, who was one of the key proponents of this effort, had a birthday on December 5, that date was selected.
The theme for World Soil Day 2022 is "Soils: Where Food Begins." By addressing the growing issues with soil management, raising soil awareness, and motivating societies to enhance soil health, the day seeks to increase understanding of the value of preserving healthy ecosystems and human well-being.
According to the UN, 95% of our food comes from the soil. By 2050, agricultural production must be increased by 60% in order to keep up with the world's growing food demand. But with such degrading soils and rapidly increasing land contamination percentage, do you think we will meet the ends by 2050?
Author: Anjali Patel
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