Soil – A Vulnerable Natural Resource

The soil is the soul of infinite life and quality of our soil and water determines the quality of our food, our body, and our life. Soils are used in buildings, roads, brick kiln, naturopathy etc. Soils are basic requirement of agriculture and provide nutrients, water, air, heat and mechanical support to arable plants to produce the food, fodder, fibre, fuel wood and other plant products for human and animals. Soils naturally treat depression by stimulating serotonin production, which helps in relaxation and happiness. Soils are also vulnerable to numerous threats like water and wind erosion, chemical deterioration, loss of nutrients and organic matter, salinity, alkalinity, acidity, pollution, contamination, change in biological activities, compaction, sealing, crusting, water-logging, aridity, lowering of water table, over grazing, deforestation, landslide, abandoned mines etc. All these urges to start teaching of soil science subject in various colleges, institutes, universities etc. This book is the sequel of my more than 38 years of the teaching, research and extension of knowledge of soil science and agrometeorology. The course content of this book is based on syllabi of courses of soil science of B.Sc. (Agriculture), B.Sc. (Horticulture), B.Sc. (Forestry) and B.Tech. (Agriculture Engineering) according to the Vth Dean Committee of ICAR, New Delhi. This book is also useful for PG students, NET, JRF, SRF, ARS etc. aspirants, extension personnel and policy makers and planners to know the methodology to restore and manage the soils from their vulnerabilities.