Land degradation is a process in which the value of the biophysical environment is affected by a combination of human-induced processes acting upon the land. Evaluating the precise magnitude of soil degradation and its impact on the environment

2. Speaker:-
Narendra Meena
M.Sc. Ag Course
Seminar
On
SOIL SCIENCE -SOILAND WATER CONSERVATION
RAJIV GANDHI SOUTH CAMPUS
BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY
MIRZAPUR (UP)
(narendarmeena83@gmail.com)

3. CONTENT
• Introduction.
• Causes of land degradation.
• Deforestation.
• Soil erosion.
• Vegetation.
• Management of landdegradation.
• Conclusion.

4. INTRODUCTION
Land degradation is the lowering of the productivity
capacity of the land through processes such as soil erosion,
loss of soil fertility and soil salinity (Young, 1997)
Land degradation generally signifies the temporary or
permanent decline in the productive capacity of
the land (UN/FAO).
Land degradation is a process in which the value of the
biophysical environment is affected by a combination of
human-induced processes acting upon the land. It is
viewed as any change or disturbance to the land perceived
to be deleterious or undesirable.

5. Land degradation meaning
• Loss of natural fertility of soil because of loss of
nutrients..
• Less vegetation cover.
• Changes in the characteristic of soil.
• Pollution of water resources from the
contamination of soil through which water seeps
onto ground or runoff to the water bodies.
• Changes in climatic conditions because of
unbalance created in the environment.

6. Causes of land degradation
• Deforestation.
• Soil erosion by wind and
water .
• Mining.
• Industrialization.
• Unsustainable
agricultural practices.
• Urban expansion.

7. Deforestation
Reddy et al.,2015

8. Soil erosion
1 Geological
2 accelerated or simply erosion
Water
erosion
Wind
erosion

10. Wind erosion

12. Land degradation challenge
1. Heavy pressure on the land (overgrazing /
charcoal)
2. Breakdown of traditional land management system

14. Effects of land degradation
• Surface runoff and floods.
• Soil erosion & desertification.
• Loss of nutrients & land
productivity.
• Soil acidification .
• Soil salinity.
• Loss of biodiversity.
• Long term socioeconomic
impact on humans like
migration

15. Surface runoff and floods.

16. Soil acidification
Blaskó Lajos (2008)

17. Waterlogged soil
Waterlogging not only
mean that the rise of water
table above the surface
areas but also it covers in
the sub-surface areas.
However, it is more
problematic in the sub-
surface areas. The
definition of waterlogging
differs among the various
organization depending on
the area and soil conditions.

18. Saline soil

19. Land Degradation- A Global
problem
Continent Total Area
(million Km2)
Degraded Area
(million Km2)
Percent Degraded
(million Km2)
Africa 14.326 10.458 73
Asia 18.814 13.417 71
Australia and the Pacific 7.012 3.759 54
Europe 1.456 0.943 65
North America 5.782 4.286 74
South America 4.207 3.058 73
Total 51.597 35.922 70
Bekele, (1992)

20. Extent of land degradation in India ,as
assessed by different organizations
ICAR 2010

21. Extent of Land Degradation in India
Soil Degradation Classes Area (in M ha)
Water Erosion
Loss of top-soil
Terrain deformation
Wind Erosion
Loss of top soil
Loss of top soil/ terrain deformation
Terrain deformation/ overblowing
Chemical Deterioration
Salinization
Loss of nutrients (En)-(Acid soils)
Physical deterioration
Waterlogging
Others
Ice caps/Rock outcrops/Arid mountain
Total
83.31
10.37
4.35
3.24
1.89
5.89
16.03
14.29
8.38
147.75 NBSS&LUP,
2004

22. Land degradation in U.P.
Space Applications
Centre, Ahmedabad

23. Space Applications
Centre, Ahmedabad

24. Reason wise waterlogged area in
UP.(lakhs/ha)

25. Management of landdegradation
1.Vegetation

26. 2. Organic farming

27. 3. Sustainable land use

28. 4. Population control

29. Conclusion
Evaluating the precise magnitude of soil
degradation and its impact on the environment are
major challenges to the soil scientists and
environmentalists.
Urgent measures are taken to arrest the
degradation process and to restore productivity of
degraded soils, it is not possible to produce more
food to fulfil the obligations to leave a better
heritage for posterity.
 A well- defined integrated land use policy at the
implementable level should be developed at the
earliest.