UNDERSTANDING THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF ORGANIC CARBON

Soil organic carbon(OC) is the carbon that remains in the soil after partial decomposition of any material produced by living organisms. Labile OC is the portion of soil organic carbon that can be readily decomposed by soil organisms. A soil with more labile OC will usually have a larger microbial community and greater potential for nutrient release via organic matter decomposition compared to a soil with less labile OC.

Organic carbon in soil is a vital component for maintaining soil health and boosting agricultural productivity, through its role.

ROLES OF ORGANIC CARBON

Soil Fertility: Enhances nutrient availability by decomposition of plant and animal residues, essential for robust crop growth.

Water Retention: Improves water retention by up to 10,000 liters for hectare for every 1% increase in soil organic matter. This reduces water usage and helps crops withstand drought.

Microbial Activity: Supports diverse microbial ecosystems crucial for nutrient cycling and building crop immunity against pest and diseases. Soils with higher organic matter have up to 100 times more microbial loads.

Carbon Sequestration: Helps sequester carbon, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Mitigates 5-10% of India’s total CO2 emissions and improves soil quality and  health.

Source: ipcc.ch/srccl

CURRENT SITUATION IN INDIAN SOILS

According to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Indian soils generally have low organic carbon content. Over 58% of Indian soils have low organic carbon content (<0.5%), 37% have medium (0.5-0.75%), and only 5% have high organic carbon content (>0.75%). 

Source : https://nbsslup.icar.gov.in/

IMPACT & CHALLENGES OF LOW ORGANIC CARBON 

Land Degradation: 30% of India’s land is degrading due to low organic carbon, threatening agricultural productivity and food security.

Water Scarcity: Low organic carbon reduces soil’s water retention, worsening water scarcity and comes in the way of  Sustainable water management.
Climate Change: Soils with low organic carbon can’t sequester carbon effectively, increasing atmospheric CO2 and climate change impacts.
Food Security: Poor soil fertility from low organic carbon reduces crop health, making realization of crop’s potential yields very difficult.
Economic Impact: Higher reliance on chemical inputs and water usage, raises production costs for small farmers. Sustainable soil management can lower costs and boost profitability.
Soil Health and Productivity: Low organic carbon leads to reduced nutrient availability, poor soil structure and hence causing compaction and erosion.
Increased Chemical Dependency: Use of more chemical fertilizers and pesticides to compensate for low soil fertility, raises costs and risks, environmental pollution and ecological balance- the basis of life on  earth.

How to BUILD OC in farms……..?