I suggest Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) can go a long way in conserving the soil for future use.

Even in high schools & through 10+2 science streams, soil science is not touched when students learn about Physics, Chemistry, Maths & Biology. A single subject "Soil & water Chemistry" is  being now taught in the first year of Agriculture & allied sciences courses in Central & State Agricultural Universities. 

Importance of this vital component of Terra Firma needs to be given due importance right from the begining of schooling. The respective state departments of Agriculture need to put in place a small duration training especially in various aspects of soil testing practicles for the science teachers - at least in the regional levels, so that the science teachers can access them & slowly duplicate the same at their levels. The I.C.A.R. will lend a helping hand in the process - if asked.

The respective state Forest Departments can also be roped in.

The Extension units of these agricultural universities can also go a long way in furthering the cause.

The fertiliser manufacturing units as part of their community programme can be convinced to take up land development works, especially the degraded ones.

Almost all the states have govt. owned waste lands.Entrepreneurs & Agricultural Scientists need to be encouraged to fruitfully make use of them & their case studies would go a long way to the future of the cause.  

Conservation agriculture (minimum tillage, crop resudues and use of organic mater amendments), and BMP's (best management practices)

Read following PDF files regarding BMP's

https://www.google.com.pk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjn0oq_k7rJAhXF1RoKHRglCXsQFggzMAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fagriculture.nh.gov%2Fpublications-forms%2Fdocuments%2Fbmp-manual.pdf&usg=AFQjCNGayqu7PjKnDsIEMmOxWzEaRyFWdw&sig2=VbTswqLmH4lyQUxrFdMA1g&bvm=bv.108194040,d.d2s

and

https://www.google.com.pk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjn0oq_k7rJAhXF1RoKHRglCXsQFghFMAY&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww5.agr.gc.ca%2Fresources%2Fprod%2Fdoc%2Fpfra%2Fpdf%2FAgric_bmp_e.pdf&usg=AFQjCNGdDHkszIlAVDJe5zPwxFOfa8TjBQ&sig2=LjgiYR2_K0KNYzGIDtuPoQ&bvm=bv.108194040,d.d2s

Dear Dr. ASR, What we the soil scientists  understand and care for soils as a unique substrate for plant growth, which is not always  appreciated by other  agricultural scientists in India in particular. So to my understanding this is the biggest hurdle  in attaining the most desired sustainable use of soils. It is a very big responsibility for soil scientists in India and we need to  convince by doing good research the universal and fundamental and role  of soils in  sustaining human mankind. It is not too late to start thinking in this direction.

Respected sir,

    I admire your statements. Please let me explain to me as many people are saying that soil is growing every day. As we notice that soil is under going a disintegration and decomposition  process, Pls validate?

In all climatic conditions soils are forming at the expense of primary and secondary minerals; however the rate of weathering and thus soil formation are  different. It is slow in dry climate while it is a rapid process in humid climate. Even in humid tropical soils crops and trees grow well meaning the quality of soils are not lost  and remain a very important and primary substrate for plants to grow. Success of crop growing is however driven by quality of managements.

First of all I compliment Dr.Trivedi for very good suggestions.I also appreciate the suggestions  /comments of Dr.Abdulkareem ,Dr.Sarwar and Dr.Pal.We also appreciate Mr.Sivagnanum for good question and Dr.Pal for good answer.We are in the last month of International year of soil.Institutes and universities connected  to agriculture  have been celebrating the year with focus on soil health. However the main point is to what extent we could educate farmers and people at large on the value of soil resources and their preservation for posterity.FAO and American Society of Soil Science have been celebrating the event with different themes for every month,covering different facets of soil and its use for public or humanity (as mentioned by Dr.Pal).Especially in India we are not studying soils for different purposes except for agricultural use.Even if some scientists are working on soils in other areas /specializations they are not coming together under one umbrella. So I request colleagues working in different areas of soil research to express their views.

The above suggestions are appreciable. Make the soil more living.

A good number of scientists and researchers have participated and discussed on the subject on the soil use for its sustainability in future. In this context I also extend my views as soil is absolutely essential for life on earth but this fact is grossly underestimated globally. Soil form the basis for our food production. Healthy and good quality food can only be produced if our soils are healthy. A healthy living soil is a crucial ally to food security and nutrition.

Soil is a natural resource, which is required for production of food, industrial raw materials as well as for generation of energy resources. It is also has a natural value, which is protected as natural heritage. From the viewpoint of natural resource, natural value and spatial factor it is indispensable for development and existence of mankind. The preservation of soil from physical destruction and pollution as well as the preservation of balance between the soil and other parts of the ecosystem represents one of the significant activities.

 The first thing we need to understand is that soil is not dead or inert. It is a living entity that feeds and nurtures plants and micro-organisms and without them there can be no life on earth. It has the biggest life sustaining potential in the universe. To have sustainable food supplies we need our soils to function as living systems and we need those millions of microorganisms that make soil fertile.

Lastly, since Soil a Living Entity, professional soil scientists, agronomists, engineers, ecologists, biologists, naturalists, and their students should know various aspects of soil and stop misusing/abusing it  because it adversely impact on soil health and how best human activities may lead to safe guard it for global welfare must become our prime motive. Unless we change our attitude and adopt suitable measures and practices to safe guard soil, we are bound to face a horrible scenario.

Dr.Riazuddin,I appreciate your very valuable comments. We need to continue our efforts to educate one and all the crucial role of soil in the ecosystem sustenance and efficient functioning for survival of humanity by providing all  ecosystem services.

Very good question placed for discussion and lot of good useful views expressed. I agree that the importance of living soils has to be much more highlighted to others working in different disciplines and to emphasize that let the soils not to suffer as a living entity.

Soil test based Integrated Nutrient Management will be the best option in future for sustainability

Nutrient management may one of ways to reach sustainability, not the only one. The biggest challenge lies to raise the productivity of less productive soils of the large geographical area under SAT areas. 

Drs.Ghafoor,Jayachandran and Pal,integrated soil management including all aspects of soil management assumes greater importance than soil fertility  management. Preventing soil degradation and soil loss through soil erosion is very important. Restoring  productivity of degraded soils making them resilient and living through integrated soil management is need of the hour.Now we have to highlight landscape management rather than soil management. Then only we can save soil from erosion loss, conserve soil and water, restore vegetation and biodiversity.Watershed based land management not only help the community to harvest and use water efficiently but also help soil conservation. Ultimately we achieve our objective of higher productivity while safe guarding the living soil and preserving it for posterity.

I really appreciate that this is very very important question of practical consideration. Keeping in view soil degradation occurring through various factors, this may be called the question of the year. There are so many measures and techniques to cope with different degradation processes like, salinity, sodicity, erosion, contamination, leaching of nutrients, decreasing of fertility and above all lowering of soil productivity. What needed is implementation. There should be regulation by governments to protect soils in their original status and regular monitoring should be its integral part. The natural calamities damaging soils should be dealt by governments. Mere commercial use should be banned. Every one should hand over the soils to the new generation in the status he occupied it or in a better conditions if it was already degraded. 

Dr.Nazir,well said.Every country should have soil policy to use soils without any detrimental effect,preserving and conserving the resource.Soil protection with associated air and water quality and biodiversity conservation is the best option for  any country.

Dear Rao

The most valuable question put forth. Thanks a lot.

I suggest the following pathways:

1. Regulatory mechanisms to stop further degrading the agriculture soil by the respective government with land management act in favor of the country's food security without further degrading the natural resource base (Policy)

2. Consolidate the information on land and soil management available across the globe and  test, improve  and verify them in the local context (Research), then disseminate the verified technologies (Extension). Conservation agriculture that focuses on minimum soil disturbance, soil cover with residues or cover crops and follows the crop rotation at least at every third season with the introduction of leguminous crops.   

The task of developing effective policy to ensure sustainable soil management

is neither simple to articulate nor easy to implement. However, some basic  issues need  serious attention, which are mentioned below.

1.Developing and maintaining a national soil information system , which will contribute to  the development of a global soil information system.

2. Dissemination of  information and knowledge on soils.

3. Mobilization of resources and the training of a new generation of soil

specialists.

4.Support research programs that will provide sound scientific backing for  development and implementation of sustainable soil management relevant

to end users.

.

Dr.Pal  and Dr.Karki,very good points for consideration and implementation.

Yes, Dr. Rao, Dr. Pal and Dr. Karki suggested meaningful considerations. The concerned authorities should take a note of it for conservation of soils of a country.

Dr.Nazir,as I under stand the countries in Europe have good soil/soil protection policies. Many developing countries in Asia and Africa need good soil protecting ,conserving and use policies.We wish that our scientific community, policy makers and Governments will take early initiave in this direction.

Such initiative by the stake holders of soils at national level is not seen now.  It is high time now specially after climate summit at Paris.

I agree that the scientists should continue their efforts to highlight this very important issue. I do understand some thing is present in laws and rules & and regulations of very country but lack is the implementation of those useful rules for which only the governments and politicians could be held responsible. Thus they must be kept on board as a part of research and awareness struggles.

Protecting our soils is a prime duty of every one. Each one of us should do what one can do at his position and role. Of course, governments should perform the leading role and implementation of regulations regarding soil conservation, as proposed by Abdul Ghafoor.

We need to make a strong base paper  on the importance of soils   in various discipline of agricultural sciences and  on the strength of such paper we need also to   convince  the   concerned   national leaders. More important will be to showcase  the  failures of national initiatives to increase the crop productivity  by applying nutrients, irrigation and also when new crop varieties have failed  due to  lack of adequate soil information.  Are we ready with such base paper yet? No doubt it is a big job of the soil scientists. If we are serious then let us wake up.

Yes, Dr. Pal, your proposal is taking high worth and workable. I agree, we should present our case with some base and proof to convince the National Leaders. Can Soil Scientists of each country join together for preparation of such document. Some volunteers should come to perform the leading role. I am ready to help such efforts if some soil scientists based in Pakistan stand to do the job. Similarly, groups should be made for each country. 

Dear Drs.Ghafoor, Nazir and Pal, the points ,ideas mentioned by you are important. As mentioned by Dr.Ghafoor we need to build on what individual countries have at present on land care and management with focus on safeguarding fertile soils ,protecting soils from degradation and pollution. Also protecting the vegetation and water resources as important component. National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, India brought out a policy paper on Integrated soil management (I coordinated the brainstorming). NAAS has also conducted brainstormings on land use policy and shifting cultivation.Early during this year one of my colleagues Dr.A.N Ganeshamurthy has published a paper on soil policy in Indian Journal of Fertilizers. In recently held Indian Society of Soil Science annual convention our DDG(NRM)has  highlighted the need for soil policy.I hope some thing concrete will happen in near future in formulating soil policy for India.

Agree With Dr Rao...........

I think a good progress in this regard has been made in India, as narrated by Dr. Rao. This can be a good example for other countries.

 Thank you Dr.Niels for your concern for soil and very practical views.Everybody should read the article you attached.The readers comments are also very good and thought provoking.Many issues  raised in the article and the readers views need public discussions.I request all the viewers and followers to read the article you attached and the readers views.At least 10 issues can be identified for discussions, debates and  awareness programmes both to scientific community and public at large.

Thank you Dr. Neils for the thought provoking & detailed article attached. It appears humanity is heading straight for the abyss & the problem needs to be tackled on all possible fonts. Every scientist & teachers need to read this article.Thank you once again.

Very good suggestions and sharing of personal experience by Dr. Niels. These are not only for thinking but putting into practice where we are and what we do. Our sincere efforts can change the scenario. I appreciate him for expression of such nice views. 

Personally I think the daily loss of fertile agricultural land to urban use is the biggest danger for our soils, nothing real to involve scientitst, but positive thinking politicans!

Dr. Rao, I would be very pleased and grateful  if after this discussion appears to come to an end, you would compile all the answers into an which I would like to submitt to the German Commission for Soil Protection where we are collecting such statements!

DrSchnug,I agree with you that we have to protect our fertile soils for posterity from urbanization and other uses like industrial use  with appropriate delineation and mapping,for food security of countries.I also agree that political will is important but who will educate or give right advice to politician? scientists ,administrators,learned people?

I also agree with your second suggestion regarding compilation of suggestions.We have to see how it can be done.

Our past president Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam took the path of educating students to bring about a change in our society, from cleanliness, corruption to learning and practicing science.He  repeatedly highlighted  the value of thinking in one's life. In India now children in schools are taught about the cleanliness ,saving water and corruption and other evils to bring about change in their homes and society.If school curriculum is  changed and the importance soil and natural resources is taught and after some years we may see a change in a country.In whatever profession we may be,we should continue to create awareness about soil and natural resource protection and conservation in people and in turn government and politicians.

Keep "loss of infiltration" on your "hitlist" of issues of nonsustainability or positively spoke issues which need attention in future: what we call the result of "silent sealing" contrubtes to the ever increasing damages through floodings!

Dr.Schnug,I understand your point of view and support.I think the soil degradation is a big problem especially in tropical countries.Our efforts in India in the last 50-60 years through erosion control measures and watershed  management programmes have given some positive results but still the problem is herculean.Establishing vegetation on degraded sloppy lands to protect the soil is a challenge.All possible efforts to  be made and resources spent on erosion control.Land reclamation programmes should always go on without interruption.So the degraded ecosystems should continuously receive attention and action  of government and public  alike.

Yes, Dr. Rao you are right to say that but there should be some practical progress in soil care like India.

Thanks for the question and the discussion - so important!

My answer to your question would be practical working projects - if the people have contact with something, they understand it much faster. As i see it India is heading towards catastrophe - water, soil and weather extremes due to heat, drought and precipitation. Make the people understand the Indian water, soil, climate nexus through the solutions. One of the big solutions is to bring nature back to the cities: urban gardening.

Slogan: Make India green again ;)

It brings people back into contact with the very essentials of life inside the cities where this understanding is needed the most.

I have also a question:

I write on humanity and Earth and where we stand as a species on our still functioning planet. I search since some time a number and can not find it. Do you or anybody knows a good study or report where the current extent of global land/soil degradation is estimated?

As per the following paper ' Recent estimations of land degradation  indicate that 3.5 billion ha-23%of Earth's land area- have been affected by some type and severity of degradation,the annual rate of which is estimated at 5 to 10 million ha(Lal,2012).'

Achieving zero net land degradation:chanllenges and opportunities by IIan Stavi,Rattan Lal Journal of Arid Environments 112(2015)44-51.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2014.01.016

Dr. Rao's response is highly relevant and appreciable.

Thanks a lot for the numbers Dr Rao.

Thank you Dr.Nazir and Jan.It is always pleasure to interact  with learned colleagues.

I always have the example Egypt in mind, where the most valuable land in the Nile value is spoiled for urban extensions and agriculture is forced into the dessert where against the nature of the environment production can only sustain with high inputs and damages to soils and environment (eg. salination). Is there a way out? YES! Its "DEURBANISATION", recover urban land back for agriculture and move urban structures into the desert around! A great challenge for a suffering country like Egypt and certainly something woth to think about in many other regions of the world.

Schnug has quoted very good example of Nile fertile land in Egypt, I totally agree to his view point. However, it is happening like this in every country. Policy makers should take care of valuable land being urbanised rapidly. 

Dr. Ewald Schnughas good and justified concerns about urbanization agri lands. But to de-urbanize may be not a cost-effective and time saving option. Rather take care in future may be more practical option to save agri lands for sustainable food production.

Dear Drs.Schnug,Nazir and Ghafoor your points/comments are highly relevant.In every country good quality lands have to be delineated and mapped and preserved for food security and survival of future generations.The countries should make policies to use degraded or barren land for industry or further urbanization.Our scientific community has to repeatedly higliht this issue to get the proper attention of policy makers/decision makers.

Developing a form of agriculture that is regenerative instead of being extractive!

To this end, any approach that aims at building soils, rather than losing it will be effective to foster the regenerative model of agriculture. An employment of perennial plant species (both herbaceous and arboreal) will assist with this effort and agroforestry is the science and technology that should be used for this purpose. In addition to this any form of soil management that aims at sequestering carbon through an enhancement of soil OM will be valuable to its conservation.