The Problem of Soil and Land

Degradation

P.C. Wall

CIMMYT
 Two major types of degradation:
Soil erosion
Fertility decline

These are linked as erosion generally

removes the most fertile soil, and the
processes which lead to highly erodible
soils are caused largely by soil fertility
decline.
 Effect of Tillage on Soil Erosion

Soil Loss (t/ha/yr)

Brazil Paraguay
(Sidiras) (Venialgo)
Conventional tillage 68.2 22.9
Chisel plough 55
Zero tillage 6.9 0.5
 Soil fertility degradation

What is a fertile soil?

A fertile soil allows the crop to produce close to

the maximum dictated by the environment
(moisture and radiation) provided other
management factors are optimal.
 Argentinian Pampa
Wheat Yield Over Time

120-60-0
Yield (t/ha)

0-0-0

Years of continuous agriculture

The Triangle of Soil Fertility

Chemical
Fertility

Physical Biological
Biological
Fertility Fertility
Fertility

The forgotten parts of soil fertility

Decline of Crop Yields and Profitability over Time
using Conventional Agriculture

100
Cost of
production
Profitable

Not Profitable

Years of Continuous Agriculture

Problems Caused by Soil Physical
Degradation
Weak aggregates
Lower soil porosity
Soil crusting and surface sealing
More soil compaction
Copied from Elwell, 1989
 The Triangle of Soil Fertility

Chemical
Fertility

S.O.M.

Physical Biological
Fertility Fertility

Soil Organic Matter (soil carbon) is linked to all aspects

of soil fertility and Soil Quality
 Effect of Conventional Agriculture on
Soil Organic Matter (%)

Place Soil Virgin or Cultivated Years of

Pasture cultivation
Itapa, Paraguay Alfisol 4.5 1.5
Pampa, Argentina Argiudol 4.4 2.8
Paran, Brasil Oxisol 5.0 2.0
Santa Cruz, Bolivia Inceptisol 3.1 1.4 2
Raindrop effects (from Elwell, 1989)

Time
 Effect of Conventional Agriculture on
Water Infiltration Rates (mm/h)

Place Soil Virgin or Cultivated Years of

Pasture cultivation
Brasil (animal traction) Oxisol 136 31.3 7
Brasil Oxisol 136 0.2 20
Brasil (4 yrs. ZT) Oxisol 136 7.5 24
The surface crust impedes
both water infiltration and
gas interchange especially
oxygen.

And so this woman farmer

knows she will get benefits
from breaking the crust but
that involves a lot of work!
 More rapid crop
High Temperatures More crops
development
per year

Faster oxidation of More tillage

organic matter
Reduction in Soil
Structural Stability
High intensity Less root
rainfall exploration
Reduced water
infiltration
Surface sealing Soil compaction

Surface crusting Water stress

Waterlogging

Reduced plant Soil erosion

populations
High Temperatures

Faster oxidation of More tillage

organic matter
Reduction in Soil
Structural Stability
High intensity Less root
rainfall exploration
Reduced water
infiltration
Surface sealing Soil compaction

Surface crusting Water stress

Waterlogging

Reduced plant Soil erosion

populations
High Temperatures

Faster oxidation of More tillage

organic matter
Reduction in Soil
Structural Stability
High intensity Less root
rainfall exploration
Reduced water
infiltration
Surface sealing Soil compaction

Surface crusting Water stress

Waterlogging

Reduced plant
The Vicious Circle Soil erosion
populations
The Triangle of Soil Fertility

Chemical
Fertility

Physical Biological
Biological
Fertility Fertility
Fertility
Carbon lost as CO2 contributes to
Global Warming
TILLAGE-INDUCED CO2 "FLUSH" AND CURRENT CROP RESIDUE
19 days after tillage
300
TOTAL C LOST IN 19 DAYS (g C/m )
2

249
250
185 g C/m2from residue
of previous wheat crop
200

150 129.5
106.6 99.8
100

49.9
50

TILLAGE TYPE
 Long Term Study July 14 - October 9, 1998
Cumulative CO2 Flux ( g CO2 m-2) Cumulative loss after 87 days (avg of 4 reps)

3500

3000
2686.1

2500

2000

1500
1079.2
1000

500

0
NT MP
" A nation that destroys
its soil destroys itself."

-- Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1937