Integrated Approaches for Soil Health Restoration in Indian Agroecosystems: Role of Conservation Agriculture, Nutrient Management and Agroforestry

Abstract

In Indian agroecosystems, soil degradation has become one of the major environmental concerns. The prime reason of soil degradation is intensive agricultural practices which affect long-term productivity and sustainability. The conventional practices which include repeated tillage, residue removal, and imbalanced fertilizer use lead to decline in soil organic carbon, poor soil structure, and reduced biological activity. Therefore, this review is intended to synthesize evidences from long-term experiments and global studies to evaluate the role of conservation agriculture and integrated soil management approaches in restoring soil health. Different operations of conservation agriculture such as minimum tillage, residue retention, and crop diversification, improve soil structure, reduce erosion, and enhance water infiltration. Conservation agriculture is also known to moderate soil temperature, conserve moisture and increase microbial activity through surface residue management. It also improves nutrient use efficiency, enhance soil aggregation and catalyse soil organic carbon build-up through integrated nutrient management. These benefits can be further intensified by adopting agroforestry systems because it improves microclimate, enhance nutrient recycling, and promote carbon storage in deeper soil layers. Integration of these practices deliver synergistic results than individual interventions. However, region-specific recommendations and supportive policies are essential for large-scale adoption.