Land degradation and

its management

Speaker:

Bhargav Dharaiya

Agri Rock

JAU, Junagadh

INTRODUCTION

The change in the characteristic and quality of soil whichadversely affect its fertility is called as Degradation.

Land degradation is the most important environmentalproblem currently challenging sustainable developmentin many parts of the world. The problem is most acutewhere the environment is intrinsically vulnerable andwhere the population is losing control of its ownresources.

Land degradation means:

1) Loss of natural fertility of soil because of loss ofnutrients.

2) Less vegetation cover

3) Changes in the characteristic of soil.

4) Pollution of water resources from the contaminationof soil through which water sweeps into ground orrunoff to the water bodies.

5) Changes in climatic conditions because of unbalancecreated in the environment.

Land is a finite resource

planet earth pie

Mountains, deserts, ices (13%)

Rocky, wet, hot, infertile areas, cities(9%)

Water(75%)

Arable land (3%)

LD: Some facts

More than 50% of agricultural land moderately to severely degraded

75 billion tons of fertile soil disappear/year

12 million ha/year lost due to drought and desertification

Biodiversity: 27,000 species lost each year due to LD

Sustainable development?

Food Energy Water

Land

Causes of land degradation

Deforestation

Soil erosion by wind or water

Mining

Industrialization

Unsustainable agricultural practices

Urban expansion

Deforestation

Soil erosion by wind or water

Industrialization

Urban expansion

Unsustainable agricultural practices

1)

Overgrazing refers to excessive eating of grasses and other greenplants by cattle. It results into reduced growth of vegetation,reduced diversity of plant species, excessive growth of unwantedplant species, soil erosion, and degradation of land due to cattlemovement.

5)

EFFECTS OR IMPACTS INCLUDE:

Decline in the chemical, physical and/or biological properties of soil

Reduced availability of potable water

Lessened volumes of surface water

Impacts on livestock and agriculture e.g. loss of animals due to dehydration, reduced yields

Decline in productivity

Water and food insecurity

Biodiversity loss

CONSERVATION MEASURES

1. Strip farming:

It is a practice in which cultivated crops aresown in alternative strips to prevent watermovement.

2. Crop Rotation:

It is one of the agricultural practice inwhich different crops are grown in samearea following a rotation system whichhelps in replenishment of the soil.

3. Ridge and Furrow Formation:

Soil erosion is one of the factors responsible for

land degradation. It can be prevented by

formation of ridge and furrow during irrigation

which lessens run off.

4. Construction of bunds:

This usually checks or reduces the velocity of

run off so that soil support vegetation.

5. Contour Farming:

This type of farming is usually practiced across the

hill side and is useful in collecting and diverting

the run off to avoid erosion.

Sustainable Land Management

The term SLM can be used to describe theutilisation of terrestrial resources (soils, plants, water,etc.) for the production of goods to satisfy changinghuman needs, without detriment to the long-termproductive potential of these resources and theirenvironmental functions.

Conclusion

Land degradation occurs because of land

poor management practices. In order to assess

sustainable land management practices, the

climate resources and the risk of climate-

related natural disaster need to be

documented. The use of climate information

must be applied in developing sustainable

practices. There is need to apply sustainable

land management practices in field forconservation of land.

Thank you "If you will not fight for right when you can easily win

without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your

victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to

the moment when you will have to fight with all the

odds against you and only a precarious chance of

survival. There may even be a worse case. You may

have to fight when there is no hope of victory…”.