World Soil Day is celebrated annually on December 5th to highlight the critical role healthy soils play in sustaining life on Earth. The day advocates for sustainable soil management and aims to raise awareness about the importance of soil conservation.
This blog will explore the significance of World Soil Day and the role of soil in our lives.
The Story Behind World Soil Day
The idea of an international day to honour soil was first recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences in 2002. Under the leadership of Thailand, the FAO helped establish World Soil Day as a global awareness platform, which was officially recognised by the UN General Assembly in December 2013. Since then, December 5th has been a day to reflect on soil’s vital importance.
From the Ground Up: Why Healthy Soils are Essential for Our Future
Soils have an extraordinary ability to form, store, transform, and recycle nutrients, producing 95 percent of our food. Healthy soils are essential for growing nutritious food, making them the foundation of a healthy food system.
It is important to reflect on what exactly is meant by “healthy soil” today. Healthy soil encompasses several crucial factors, including:
- Biological parameters: The soil microbiome plays a key role in soil health, as it supports nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and plant disease suppression. A rich diversity of microorganisms is essential for maintaining soil fertility.
- Chemical parameters: This refers to the availability and balance of essential nutrients, as well as the presence of contaminants such as pesticides and byproducts from non-agricultural activities (e.g., chemicals from the industrial sector).
- Physical parameters: Soil texture, which determines the soil’s ability to retain water and its nutrient content, is a critical factor. Soil granulation affects its structure, influencing aeration, water infiltration, and root penetration, all of which are important for plant health.
With soil and water serving as the foundation of plant-based food, their interdependent relationship sustains ecosystems and supports agricultural systems globally. However, soil is a fragile resource, vulnerable to degradation from factors such as erosion, soil compaction, nutrient depletion, pollution, and loss of organic matter. These influences reduce its fertility and resilience, leading to an estimated 60 to 70% of EU soils being unhealthy.
This highlights the urgent need for careful soil management to keep our soils healthy and productive. Unfortunately, soil management often takes a backseat when immediate agricultural gains are prioritised over long-term sustainability. Over-reliance on chemical fertilisers, monocropping, poor irrigation practices, and neglecting issues like soil erosion or compaction all contribute to the gradual degradation of soil health.
Mission 'A Soil Deal for Europe'
Recognising this urgent need, the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ has been launched with the goal of driving the transition towards healthier soils by 2030. This initiative aims to protect and improve soil quality by supporting research and innovation, integrating social sciences, and fostering collaboration through 100 living labs and lighthouses to test solutions in real-life conditions.
Furthermore, the mission seeks to establish a harmonised framework for soil monitoring across Europe, while raising public awareness about the vital role soil health plays in securing a sustainable future.
The Importance of Soil Data in Sustainability
This year’s theme, “Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage,” highlights the crucial role of accurate soil data in understanding soil characteristics and supporting informed decisions for sustainable soil management to ensure food security.
To acquire accurate soil data, modern tools such as remote sensing, soil sensors, and technologies applied to assess soil microbial biodiversity are key to tracking soil health, moisture levels, and nutrient content in real time.
When combined with IoT (Internet of Things) systems, these technologies transmit data to central platforms, enabling continuous monitoring and automated adjustments in irrigation, fertilisation, and pest control. This integration empowers farmers to optimise resources, reduce waste, and enhance crop yields while ensuring sustainability.
In projects like CrackSense, these advanced sensor technologies can be specifically applied to monitor the soil conditions that directly influence fruit development. By tracking parameters such as soil texture, moisture, and nutrient levels, irrigation and fertilisation practices can be precisely adjusted. This targeted approach helps mitigate risks such as fruit cracking.
The Role of Soil in Preventing Fruit Cracking
Fruit cracking is a common and concerning issue faced by farmers worldwide. It refers to the splitting or cracking of the fruit’s skin and flesh under specific conditions. This physiological phenomenon not only affects the aesthetic quality of the produce but also compromises its integrity, resulting in decreased marketability.
While climate change and environmental factors like temperature fluctuations, humidity, and water stress contribute to fruit cracking, soil also plays an important role in mitigating the issue. The condition and health of the soil directly influence fruit growth and the resilience of fruit skin, making it essential to consider soil management as a key factor in mitigating cracking.
The quality and nutrient composition of the soil are fundamental to the fruit’s development. An imbalance in soil nutrients, particularly calcium, magnesium, boron, potassium, zinc, copper, molybdenum, and manganese, can weaken the fruit’s skin, making it more susceptible to cracking.
Inadequate levels of these essential nutrients may impair the cell structure, leading to increased cracking incidents. For example, calcium is vital for cell wall strength, elasticity, and fruit integrity. Its presence in sufficient amounts ensures that the fruit can endure the stress caused by water absorption and environmental changes without cracking.
Maintaining balanced soil moisture content is also essential. Excessive water absorption by the roots, particularly when combined with nutrient deficiencies, can cause cell enlargement in the fruit, which increases the likelihood of cracking.
Furthermore, zinc regulates water uptake by plant roots and has been shown to reduce cracking when applied as a foliar spray. Zinc also influences enzyme activities involved in protein, carbohydrate, and nucleic acid metabolism, supporting overall fruit development.
Preventing Fruit Cracking through Proper Orchard Management
To reduce the occurrence of fruit cracking, a few key practices can be implemented:
- Adequate Irrigation: Monitoring soil moisture levels regularly and using efficient irrigation methods, such as drip systems, helps maintain a steady moisture balance and reduces the risk of cracking.
- Mulching: Applying mulch around fruit trees helps maintain soil moisture and temperature stability. Mulch reduces moisture evaporation and prevents rapid fluctuations in soil moisture, which in turn helps to protect the fruit from cracking caused by inconsistent water levels.
- Nutrient Management: Regular soil tests and targeted nutrient management based on the specific needs of the crop can promote healthy fruit growth and prevent cracking.
Conclusion
As we recognise the significance of soil health, especially on World Soil Day, it becomes clear that sustainable soil management is a cornerstone of resilient agriculture. Projects such as CrackSense highlight how effective soil management practices can prevent issues like fruit cracking, ultimately enhancing agricultural productivity. Emphasising soil care not only supports healthier crops but also ensures a more sustainable future for global food production.
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References
- United Nations. World Soil Day. United Nations. Retrieved December 4, 2024, from https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-soil-day
- European Commission. Soil Deal for Europe. European Commission. Retrieved December 4, 2024, from https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/soil-deal-europe_en
