Context:

A recent ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) study revealed that climate change and unbalanced fertiliser use are major factors behind the decline of soil organic carbon (SOC) across India’s arable lands. The six-year study (2017–2023), coordinated by the Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, analysed over 2.5 lakh soil samples from 620 districts across 29 States.

Key findings of the study:

• • The study has found that if the organic carbon is low, then the deficiency of micronutrients in the soil is high, and if the organic carbon is high, the deficiency is low.
  • Also, the organic carbon is highly correlated with the elevation. If the elevation of the land is high, then the organic carbon content is high.
  • Additionally, the organic soil carbon is negatively correlated with temperature. For example, in Rajasthan and Telangana, the temperature is very high, and their organic carbon content is low.
  • The cropping system is particularly important in deciding the organic carbon content within the regions. Wherever rice-based cropping systems or pulse-based systems are there, the organic carbon content is a bit higher than the areas that followed wheat and coarse-grain cropping systems.
  • Rising temperatures are expected to further accelerate SOC loss, reducing soil fertility and increasing heat reflection, which intensifies the greenhouse effect. Lower SOC also means less carbon sequestration, threatening India’s climate mitigation goals.

Policy Recommendations by ICAR:

• • Organic Carbon Sequestration: Promote carbon-rich farming systems and cover all soils with vegetation or crops.
  • Incentivize Carbon Credit Farming: Reward farmers who enhance soil carbon storage.
  • Balanced Fertilizer Use: Encourage scientific nutrient management—optimum N:P:K ratios and organic manure integration.
  • Agroforestry & Plantation Drives: Increase vegetation cover to absorb atmospheric CO₂.
  • Climate-Resilient Cropping: Develop crop management systems tailored for warming climates.

Significance:

• • The study provides India’s first agro-ecological base map linking cropping systems, fertilizer use, and SOC health across 20 agro-ecological regions.
  • It aids policy formulation on carbon credit systems, land degradation, and climate adaptation.
  • Protecting soil carbon is essential not only for agricultural productivity but also for India’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Conclusion:

The ICAR findings underscore that climate change and fertilizer misuse are silently degrading India’s most vital resource - its soil. Restoring organic carbon through balanced nutrient management, sustainable cropping, and carbon credit incentives will be central to ensuring food security, soil health, and climate resilience.