Soil and Environmental Health: Challenges Ahead

摘要

Soil is the essence of life. Our ancient scriptures make frequent mention of Mother Earth as support for all living organisms in our planet. Of late, the pressure on these vital resources due to rapid industrialization, intensive agriculture and otheranthropogenic activities has led to various kinds of land degradation, environmental pollution and a decline in crop productivity and sustainability. Prominent sources contributing to contaminated load of soils are geogenic, mining and smelting, disposal of municipal/ industrial wastes, use of fertilizers, pesticides and automobiles. Natural contamination of soil and ground water with arsenic, selenium and fluoride in many parts of the world particularly in Astralasia - Pacific water region, arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh, West Bengal (India), China, Thailand, Taiwan. Selenium poisoning in India and fluoride poisoning in India and Pakistan are of great concern to human health (Paroda 1999). Soil contamination also causes deleterious effect on soil biota. Hence a strategy to overcome the soil pollution and maintain soil health is very important.