Soil Carbon Sequestration for Sustainable Soil Health and Agricultural Productivity in India

Ratnadeep Kar

doi:10.66132/ss010206

Authors

Ratnadeep Kar Tamil Nadu Agricultural University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66132/ss010206

Keywords:

Agricultural productivity, Climate resilience, Soil carbon, Soil health, Sustainable agriculture

Abstract

Soil carbon sequestration has become a key approach to enhance the soil health and agricultural productivity and to enhance the climate resilience in Indian farming systems. Widespread degradation of soil organic carbon (SOC) in the agro-ecological regions of India has affected soil structure, nutrient availability, water retention and biological activity, thereby affecting performance of crop and increasing the vulnerability to climate variability. This review summarizes recent information on soil carbon status and dynamics in Indian agriculture and critically analyzes the mechanisms affecting the soil health and production by SOC. Long-term field experimental and regional studies have shown that conservation agriculture, integrated nutrient management, organic amendments, crop residue retention, agro forestry, and novel carbon enhancing technologies are markedly able to increase the SOC stocks, stabilize and in many cases, enhance crop yields. The review also cites significant limitations to large-scale adoption such as measurement and monitoring issues, regional differences in sequestration potential, socioeconomic trade-offs, and smallholder barriers to adoption. Some of the major research priorities are identified to follow-up the successful scaling such as the establishment of low-cost monitoring structures, regionally specific managerial plans, and enhanced extension and policy integration. It is therefore critical to strengthen soil carbon stocks in order to attain sustainable soil health, resilient agricultural production as well as long term food security in India.

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