Infographic: Why is soil so important?
1
Bedrock Why is soil so important? Soil is the foundation of all life on Earth – without it, we couldn’t grow the food we need to live. But it’s at risk from many different threats. So, we’re doing everything we can to help growers protect it. What is soil? 45 % Mineral matter 25 % Water 25 % Air 5 % Organic matter It’s porous Pore spaces in soil absorb air and water, and deliver nutrients to plants It’s alive One spoonful of healthy soil can contain 1 billion bacteria and other organisms It’s nutrient-rich Nitrogen, phosphorus and other nutrients are vital for plant nutrition Organic matter Parent rock Subsoil Topsoil Fertile, healthy soil is essential for agriculture and food security. Sustainable intensification of agriculture is needed to produce more food on less land. Improving yields allows us to grow more food, using less land. Of the 1.6 billion hectares used to grow crops: Why do we need soil? 1.3 billion people live off the land Nearly 1 in 5 people on Earth produce food & other agricultural products for the rest of the world. 15 % Europe 17 % Africa 39 % Asia Pacific 15 % North America 10 % Latin America 4 % Middle East 1980 Now 12 % 88 % Annual output of grain per hectare 13 billion hectares of total land on Earth Only 12% of land is suitable for agricultural use 2.3 tons 3.6 tons T h r e a t s t o s o i l h e a lt h T h r e a t s t o s o i l h e a l t h W a t e r e r o s i o n W i n d e r o s i o n D e s e r t i f c a t i o n C o m p a c t i o n L o s s o f o r g a n i c m a t t e r U r b a n i z a t i o n 40% of the world’s farmland is considered degraded 40 % Nature takes 500 years to replace 25 mm of lost soil 500 years 1 second Every second, we lose a soccer field of farmland An estimated 7.3M hectares of forest are lost each year (that’s about the size of Ireland) 7.3 m What are the challenges? Erosion, degradation, poor soil management, desertification and urbanization are serious threats to land and soil. If we don’t protect soil health, our ability to grow food and sustain life will suffer. Poor soil management Excessive tillage makes soil susceptible to erosion. It also releases stored carbon into the atmosphere. Monoculture can deplete soils of nutrients and limits the types of healthy organisms living in soil. Syngenta works with growers to help them restore the fertility of the soil they farm. What is Syngenta doing to help? Conservation tillage Reduce unnecessary soil disturbance by no-tilling techniques, and by planting into the residues of a previous crop. Permanent cover Cover crops protect soil from exposure to extreme weather conditions and provide a better environment for soil organisms. Crop rotation Rotating crops helps soil develop new and diverse organisms, and keep a balance of nutrients. Technology The best combination of seeds, crop protection and machinery to support the adoption of different soil management practices. Training Sharing knowledge with farmers about best practices and the latest findings in soil and water conservation. Diagnostics Identifying the key impact factors for different soil types and cropping systems, to adapt management to local conditions. Sustainable soil practices Implementation through Learn more at www.goodgrowthplan.com We’ve committed to improve the fertility of 10 million hectares of farmland on the brink of degradation as part of The Good Growth Plan. How big is 10 million hectares? Iceland 10.3 mil. ha. Kenya 58.3 mil. ha. Thailand 51.4 mil. ha. UK 24.5 mil. ha. As a result… soil 4. 3. 2. 1. Provides higher yields in the long term Requires fewer passes with farm machinery using less fuel and labor Retains more moisture for crops Has more organic matter Less soil loss, higher yields Every year, potato farmers in Colombia’s Cundinamarca region can lose around 20 tons of soil per hectare. But when trained in conservation tillage techniques, crop protection and sustainable practices, these growers can reduce soil loss by 67% and sustain 25–30% higher yields. 67% reduced soil loss 25% Increased yield Growth by 2030 15–20% © 2014 Syngenta AG, Switzerland References A Guide to Our Industry in 2014 http://www.nxtbook.com/syngenta/Our_industry/Our-industry-2014 FAO http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/a0413e/a0413E12.htm FAO STAT http://faostat.fao.org/site/550/default.aspx#ancor Pimentel D, Pimentel M; American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; Vol. 78, Issue 3, p. 660S-663S (September 2003) UNCCD http://www.unccd.int/Lists/SiteDocumentLibrary/Rio+20/UNCCD_ PolicyBrief_ZeroNetLandDegradation.pdf USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service http://nerrs.noaa.gov/doc/siteprofile/acebasin/html/envicond/soil/slform.htm USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/soils/health/ biology/?cid=nrcs142p2_053862
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Transcript of Infographic: Why is soil so important?
Bedrock
Why is
soil so important?Soil is the foundation of all life on Earth – without it, we couldn’t grow the food we need to live. But it’s at risk from many different threats. So, we’re doing everything we can to help growers protect it.
What is soil?
45% Mineral matter
25% Water
25% Air
5% Organic matter
It’s porous Pore spaces in soil absorb air and water, and deliver nutrients to plants
It’s aliveOne spoonful of healthy soil can contain 1 billion bacteria and other organisms
It’s nutrient-rich Nitrogen, phosphorus and other nutrients are vital for plant nutrition
Organic matter
Parent rock
Subsoil
Topsoil
Fertile, healthy soil is essential for agriculture and food security. Sustainable intensification of agriculture is needed to produce more food on less land.
Improving yields allows us to grow more food, using less land.
Of the 1.6 billion hectares used to grow crops:
Why do we need soil?
1.3 billion people live off the landNearly 1 in 5 people on Earth produce food & other agricultural products for the rest of the world.
15% Europe
17% Africa
39% Asia Pacific
15% North America
10% Latin America
4% Middle East
1980 Now
12%88%
Annual output of grain per hectare
13 billion hectares of total land on Earth
Only 12% of land is suitable for agricultural use
2.3tons
3.6tons
Threats to soil health Threats to soil health
W
ater erosion
Wind erosion
Desertif cation Compaction
Loss
of organic matter
Urbanization
40% of the world’s farmland is considered degraded
40%
Nature takes 500 years to replace 25 mm of lost soil
500years1second
Every second, we lose a soccer field of farmland
An estimated 7.3M hectares of forest are lost each year (that’s about the size of Ireland)
7.3m
What are the challenges? Erosion, degradation, poor soil management, desertification and urbanization are serious threats to land and soil. If we don’t protect soil health, our ability to grow food and sustain life will suffer.
Poor soil management
Excessive tillage makes soil susceptible to erosion. It also releases stored carbon into the atmosphere.
Monoculture can deplete soils of nutrients and limits the types of healthy organisms living in soil.
10.3 mil. ha (please correct figure & format)58.3 mil. ha (please correct format)51.4 mil. ha (please correct format)24.5 mil. ha (please correct format)
figure and ‘mil’
Syngenta works with growers to help them restore the fertility of the soil they farm.
What is Syngenta doing to help?
Conservation tillageReduce unnecessary soil disturbance by no-tilling techniques, and by planting into the residues of a previous crop.
Permanent coverCover crops protect soil from exposure to extreme weather conditions and provide a better environment for soil organisms.
Crop rotationRotating crops helps soil develop new and diverse organisms, and keep a balance of nutrients.
Technology The best combination of seeds, crop protection and machinery to support the adoption of different soil management practices.
Training Sharing knowledge with farmers about best practices and the latest findings in soil and water conservation.
DiagnosticsIdentifying the key impact factors for different soil types and cropping systems, to adapt management to local conditions.
Sustainable soil practices Implementation through
Learn more at www.goodgrowthplan.com
We’ve committed to improve the fertility of 10 million hectares of farmland on the brink of degradation as part of The Good Growth Plan.
How big is 10 million hectares?
Iceland
10.3 mil. ha.Kenya
58.3 mil. ha.Thailand
51.4 mil. ha.UK
24.5 mil. ha.
As a result…
soil
4.
3.
2.
1.
Provides higher yields in the long term
Requires fewer passes with farm machinery using less fuel and labor
Retains more moisture for crops
Has more organic matter
Less soil loss, higher yieldsEvery year, potato farmers in Colombia’s Cundinamarca region can lose around 20 tons of soil per hectare.
But when trained in conservation tillage techniques, crop protection and sustainable practices, these growers can reduce soil loss by 67% and sustain 25–30% higher yields.
67%reduced soil loss
25%Increased
yield
Growth by 2030
15–20%
© 2014 Syngenta AG, Switzerland
ReferencesA Guide to Our Industry in 2014 http://www.nxtbook.com/syngenta/Our_industry/Our-industry-2014
FAO http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/a0413e/a0413E12.htm
FAO STAT http://faostat.fao.org/site/550/default.aspx#ancor
Pimentel D, Pimentel M; American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; Vol. 78, Issue 3, p. 660S-663S (September 2003)
UNCCD http://www.unccd.int/Lists/SiteDocumentLibrary/Rio+20/UNCCD_PolicyBrief_ZeroNetLandDegradation.pdf
USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service http://nerrs.noaa.gov/doc/siteprofile/acebasin/html/envicond/soil/slform.htm
USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/soils/health/biology/?cid=nrcs142p2_053862
