Abstract
South Asia has diverse soils, climates, physiography and other natural resources conducive to agricultural intensification. Yet, the region is characterized by several problems including food insecurity, soil and environmental degradation, land desertification, pollution of natural waters, and loss of biodiversity. There is a widespread poverty and the number of food-insecure population is increasing because of lack of access to food and poor utilization caused by water and air pollution. Despite high rate of irrigation, crop yields are vulnerable to vagaries of monsoons. Soil degradation is caused by the widespread use of extractive farming including removal of crop residues, use of animal manure as household fuel, and low and unbalanced application of fertilizers. Crop yields have improved since 1960, but can be easily increased by 50% or more. There is a strong need for restoring degraded soils and ecosystems through improvements in soil organic carbon pool and creation of positive nutrient budgets. Adaptation to climate change necessitates improvements in soil quality to buffer against the adverse impacts of extreme events on agronomic production.
“The great tragedy of science – the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact.”
Thomas Huxley
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Abbreviations
- GM:
-
Genetically modified
- IGP:
-
Indo-Gangetic plains
- Mha:
-
Million hectares
- Mt:
-
Million tonnes
- RMPs:
-
Recommended management practices
- SA:
-
South Asia
- SOC:
-
Soil organic carbon
- SOM:
-
Soil organic matter
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Lal, R. (2010). Soil Degradation and Food Security in South Asia. In: Lal, R., Sivakumar, M., Faiz, S., Mustafizur Rahman, A., Islam, K. (eds) Climate Change and Food Security in South Asia. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9516-9_10
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