**2. The extent of land degradation**

Globally, changes in land use and management practices accelerated soil erosion and have led to irrevocable land degradation, which is affecting 23.5% of the earth's land area [12, 13]. Soil erosion is one of the serious problems which not only impair the quality of land and water resources but also harm agricultural production and the socio-economic condition of farmers. Soil erosion has degraded about 32% of total land area in the USA, 30.7% in China, 16% in Africa, 17% in Europe, and 45% in India through a wide range of degradation processes [14]. Among various land degradation processes, water erosion is a major problem affecting 68.4% of the total land area in India [15, 16]. In India, various organizations have estimated the extent of land degradation (**Table 1**). NBSS and LUP has been reported about 146.8 mha degraded land area in India [17].

A harmonization exercise was done involving various organizations, to work out the water erosion, wind erosion, physical, and chemical degradation in India [18].


**25**

classes is given in **Table 2**.

Grand total (Arable + open

*Area with <40% tree canopy cover.*

*Sub-surface water logging is not considered.*

*Harmonized data of degraded and wastelands in India.*

**3. Soil Erosion and erosion causing agents**

adverse impact on productivity and agricultural sustainability.

*Soil and Water Conservation Measures for Agricultural Sustainability*

Sub-total 85.67 9.30

Sub-total 17.45 7.23

Total 104.19 16.53

120.72

*pH < 5.5 and areas under paddy and plantation crops were also included in the total acid soils.*

Permanent Water logging\$ 0.88 Subtotal 1.07

**(mha)**

Wind erosion (Eolian) 12.40 — ICAR-CAZRI

1.20 0.10

Exclusively acidic soils# 5.09 — NBSS&LUP, 2005

5.72 7.13

**Open forest\* (mha)**

73.27 9.30 ICAR-IISWC

5.44 — ICAR-CSSRI, NBSS&LUP and

0.19 Visual interpretation of satellite data,

**Data source**

NRSA, 2004

NRSA, 2003

The harmonized data on degraded and wastelands with all possible combination

Soil erosion is the removal of topsoil by the physical forces of erosion causing agents at a greater rate than the rate of its formation. Initially, erosion removes the nutrient-rich fertile top layer of soil which leads to the reduced production potential of soil. Soil erosion is classified into two categories, i.e., accelerated and geological erosion. Geological erosion is the natural phenomenon, occurs through the constant process of weathering and disintegration of rocks in which the rate of erosion remains lower than the soil formation rate. In contrast, in accelerated erosion, the rate of soil erosion exceeds a certain threshold level and becomes rapid. Anthropogenic activities such as slash-and-burn agriculture, overgrazing, deforestation, mining, and intensive and faulty agriculture practices are accountable for accelerated soil erosion [9]. This higher rate of soil erosion leads to the removal of organic matter and plant nutrients from the fertile topsoil and eventually lowering crop productivity. Hence, the conservation and management of natural resources are essential. Although the soil erosion cannot be eliminated, however it must be reduced to the level that can minimize its

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92895*

**Degradation type Arable land** 

Water erosion (>10 t/ha/

*Chemical degradation* Exclusively salt-affected

Salt-affected and water

Acidic and water eroded

*Physical degradation* Mining and industrial

year)

soils

soils#

waste

land)

*\**

*#*

*\$*

**Table 2.**

eroded soils

#### **Table 1.**

*Extent of land degradation estimated by different agencies in India.*


#### *Soil and Water Conservation Measures for Agricultural Sustainability DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92895*

*# pH < 5.5 and areas under paddy and plantation crops were also included in the total acid soils.*

*\$ Sub-surface water logging is not considered.*

#### **Table 2.**

*Soil Moisture Importance*

while deteriorating environmental quality. On the other hand, the future of living beings and agricultural production systems is at stake due to continuously depleting aquifers and increasing pressure on underground water under projected climate change scenarios [7]. Moreover, climate change will increase water demand globally by about 40% of the water needed for irrigation [8]. Hence, under the emerging scenario of acute water shortages and land degradation, we must focus our effort on the development and adoption of efficient approaches for soil and water conservation as well as for agricultural sustainability. Even the theme for "World soil day," 2019 was "stop soil erosion, save our future" to raise awareness on the importance of sustaining healthy ecosystems and human wellbeing. Judicious use and management soil and water resources are more vital now than ever before to satisfy the needs of the ever-growing world population [9]. Conservation of soil and water has several agronomic, environmental, and economical benefits. Worldwide, around US\$ 400 billion annual cost of on- and -off-site erosion has been estimated for replenishing lost nutrients, cleaning of

water reservoirs and conveyances, and preventing erosion [10, 11].

**Agency Estimation** 

Globally, changes in land use and management practices accelerated soil erosion and have led to irrevocable land degradation, which is affecting 23.5% of the earth's land area [12, 13]. Soil erosion is one of the serious problems which not only impair the quality of land and water resources but also harm agricultural production and the socio-economic condition of farmers. Soil erosion has degraded about 32% of total land area in the USA, 30.7% in China, 16% in Africa, 17% in Europe, and 45% in India through a wide range of degradation processes [14]. Among various land degradation processes, water erosion is a major problem affecting 68.4% of the total land area in India [15, 16]. In India, various organizations have estimated the extent of land degradation (**Table 1**). NBSS and LUP has been reported about 146.8 mha

A harmonization exercise was done involving various organizations, to work out the water erosion, wind erosion, physical, and chemical degradation in India [18].

National Commission on Agriculture 1976 148 Ministry of Agriculture-Soil and Water Conservation Division 1978 175 Department of Environment 1980 95 National Wasteland Development Board 1985 123 Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development 1984 130 National Remote Sensing Agency 1985 53 Ministry of Agriculture 1985 174 Ministry of Agriculture 1994 107

NBSS&LUP (Revised) 2004 147

**year**

1994 188

**Degraded area (mha)**

**2. The extent of land degradation**

degraded land area in India [17].

National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning

*Extent of land degradation estimated by different agencies in India.*

**24**

**Table 1.**

(NBSS&LUP)

*Harmonized data of degraded and wastelands in India.*

The harmonized data on degraded and wastelands with all possible combination classes is given in **Table 2**.
