Soil Degradation and Erosion in India and Conservation Measures
Geography › Physical Geography of India · Topic 8.11
Soil degradation in India means the loss of soil and of its fertility through erosion by water and wind, salinity and alkalinity, waterlogging, loss of organic matter, nutrient depletion, deforestation, shifting cultivation, mining and overgrazing. A national assessment by the Indian Space Research Organisation found that nearly 30 per cent of the land area was degraded in 2018 to 2019, with water erosion the main cause. Conservation uses contour bunding, terracing, check dams, afforestation, gully control, reclamation of saline soils, soil health cards and watershed programmes.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Geography · Physical Geography of India
At a Glance
- Degraded land About 30 per cent (2018 to 2019)
- Main cause Water erosion
- Ravine regions Chambal, Yamuna, Mahi
- Reclamation Gypsum for alkaline soils
- Scheme Soil Health Card, 2015
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Geography: Physical Geography of India
Where Does It Fit?
This topic follows the account of Indian soils and takes up their loss and decline. It applies the general principles of soil erosion to the conditions of India, where the pressure of population and farming is heavy. Previous topic: regur) Acidic leached soil Laterite Desert soil Arid soil, sandy Classification…">Types, Textures and Distribution of Soils in India. Next topic: Categories of Forests in India and Extent of Forest Cover.
How Much Land Is Degraded and What Are the Causes?
The Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India, prepared by the Indian Space Research Organisation from satellite data, estimated that about 97.85 million hectares, nearly 30 per cent of the geographical area, was degraded in 2018 to 2019. The figures are updated from time to time, so the latest atlas should be checked.
| Process | Cause and region |
|---|---|
| Water erosion | Rain and runoff on slopes; the largest cause; sheet, rill and gully erosion in the Himalaya foothills, the Western Ghats, the plateau and the ravines |
| Wind erosion | Thar and the arid regions, moving sand over farmland |
| Vegetation degradation | Loss of forest and grass cover from felling, grazing, fire and shifting cultivation |
| Salinity and alkalinity | Poorly drained canal-irrigated plains of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, and coastal soils |
| Waterlogging | Seepage from canals and poor drainage raise the water table |
| Ravines and gullies | Chambal, Yamuna, Mahi, Sabarmati and Tapi valleys; fertile land lost |
| Shifting cultivation (jhum) | Northeast hill states and parts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh; short fallow periods now cause erosion |
| Nutrient decline | Overuse of nitrogen fertiliser, loss of organic matter, and little use of manure |
| Mining and construction | fold mountains, basins India’s heartland Chota Nagpur plateau Methods Open-cast and underground Law MMDR Act, 1957 Local…">Open-cast mining in Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Goa |
What Are the Conservation Measures?
- On slopes: contour ploughing and bunding, terracing, strip cropping, grass strips, check dams and gully plugging.
- Vegetation: afforestation, shelterbelts and windbreaks against wind erosion in dry lands, and controlled grazing.
- Ravines: reclamation by levelling, planting of grasses and trees, and check dams.
- Saline and alkaline soils: drainage, leaching with good water, gypsum on sodic soils, and salt-tolerant crops.
- Farm practices: crop rotation, mulching, organic manure, green manure, balanced fertiliser and zero tillage.
- Watersheds: treatment of whole catchments with the people involved.
The general principles of soil conservation are described in Soil Erosion and Conservation.
Practices that suit the hills differ from those of the plains. Terraced fields on Himalayan and Western Ghats slopes cut the speed of runoff and let rain soak in, and the traditional jhum cycle, once 15 to 20 years of fallow, has shrunk in places to only a few years, so that the soil has no time to recover. Programmes now encourage settled terrace farming, horticulture and agroforestry in place of short-fallow jhum. In the plains, tube-well irrigation without drainage has pushed up salts and the water table, so conjunctive use of surface and groundwater, lining of canals and laser levelling are recommended. Most successful projects involve the village in planning and share the cost, which is why watershed committees and user groups have become part of government schemes.
Which Government Programmes Address Soil?
| Programme | Content |
|---|---|
| Soil Health Card (2015) | Cards to farmers with soil test results and advice on the proper dose of fertiliser |
| National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (2014) | Climate-resilient farming, soil health management and water use efficiency |
| Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (2015) | Support for organic farming in clusters |
| PMKSY watershed component | Watershed development, rainwater conservation and soil treatment |
| National Mission for a Green India (2014) | Increase and improvement of forest and tree cover |
| Bonn Challenge and UNCCD pledges | India has committed to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 and works towards land degradation neutrality; the UNCCD conference of 2019 was held in New Delhi |
As an analytical point, degradation costs India crores of rupees in lost output every year, and it is closely linked with poverty, since poor farmers cultivate the most degraded lands. The regional soil types are in Types, Textures and Distribution of Soils in India, and the loss of forest cover in Conservation Issues Relating to Indian Natural Vegetation.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Extent ISRO atlas figures
- Schemes Soil Health Card
- Link Food security and poverty
What Came Next?
The next topic describes the categories of forests in India and the extent of forest cover. Next topic: Categories of Forests in India and Extent of Forest Cover.
Key People and Terms
- Gully erosion Deep channels cut by runoff
- Ravine Deeply gullied land
- Waterlogging Saturation of soil by water
- Sodic soil Soil with excess sodium
- Jhum Shifting cultivation
- LDN Land degradation neutrality
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- About 30 per cent of India’s land is degraded.
- Water erosion is the main cause.
- Ravines: Chambal, Yamuna, Mahi.
- Soil Health Card began in 2015.
- Gypsum is used to treat sodic soils.
Do Not Confuse With
- Salinity and alkalinity Excess neutral salts versus excess sodium
- Waterlogging and flooding Rise of water table versus overflow
- Soil degradation and desertification Loss of soil quality versus spread of dryland conditions
Memory Hook
Water washes, wind blows, salt creeps; cards, bunds, trees and gypsum keep.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the causes and remedies of land degradation. These points add depth.
- Extent Satellite assessment
- Causes Natural and human
- Remedies Technology and schemes
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the causes of soil degradation in India and examine the effectiveness of the measures taken for soil conservation.”
How to Answer
- Extent ISRO atlas.
- Causes Erosion, salinity, jhum.
- Measures On-farm and programmes.
- Assess Gaps and incentives.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
How much land in India is degraded?
According to the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of the Indian Space Research Organisation, about 97.85 million hectares, nearly 30 per cent of India's geographical area, was degraded in 2018 to 2019. Water erosion is the largest cause, followed by vegetation degradation and wind erosion.
What are the main causes of soil degradation in India?
The main causes are water erosion on slopes, wind erosion in dry lands, loss of vegetation through deforestation, overgrazing and shifting cultivation, salinity and waterlogging in irrigated areas, overuse of chemical fertilisers, mining, and building. Heavy population pressure on land increases all of these.
What are ravines?
Ravines are deeply cut gullies in alluvial plains, formed by running water in soft soil on sloping ground. They are common in the Chambal, Yamuna, Mahi, Sabarmati and Tapi valleys. They destroy fertile land and also are known as badlands, and they need reclamation by levelling, planting and check dams.
How are saline and alkaline soils reclaimed?
Saline soils are reclaimed by improving drainage and leaching the salts with good-quality water. Alkaline or sodic soils are treated with gypsum, which replaces sodium with calcium, followed by leaching. Salt-tolerant crops, organic manure and better irrigation practices also help to keep the land productive.
What is the Soil Health Card scheme?
The Soil Health Card scheme, launched in 2015, gives farmers a card with the nutrient status of their soil, based on laboratory tests, and recommendations on the right amount of fertilisers and soil amendments for their crops. It aims to promote balanced fertiliser use, lower costs and improve the health of soil.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Water erosion is the largest cause of land degradation in India.
Wind erosion and salinity are less extensive.
2 The Soil Health Card scheme was launched in 1990.
It was launched in 2015.
3 Gypsum is used to reclaim alkaline soils.
It replaces sodium with calcium.
4 Ravines are common in the Chambal valley.
They are deeply gullied lands.
Past Mains Questions on This Topic
This topic comes under Physical Geography of India. UPSC Mains questions asked on the matching syllabus topic, year-wise with marks:
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