Topsoils could last less than 200 years or more than 5,000—depending on management

Emma Bryce

2020-09-25

Anthropocene

Keywords: Soil health, Farming practices, Food security, Environmental sustainability, Conservation agriculture

"This global survey revealed that around one-third of topsoils found on conventionally-farmed lands would last for less than 200 years, and 16% would be able to grow food for under 100 years. Overall, 90% of topsoils in this category were found to be thinning, which means they’re losing more material to erosion than they’re gaining, and are therefore in a steady decline.

We currently farm 36% of earth’s arable land, and conventional farming methods are most common across this landscape. So this reveals a worrying picture of predominantly thinning soils across the planet. "

The article highlights a research study published in the Environmental Research Letters that discusses global soil health. The study takes into consideration a dataset of 255 soil samples from 38 countries to highlight that topsoils on conventionally farmed lands have a lifespan of less than 200 years, with 90% experiencing thinning. The study reveals that most topsoils are thinning due to conventional farming practices, raising concerns about future food production and carbon sequestration. However, implementing soil conservation measures like cover cropping and no-till agriculture can significantly extend soil lifespans, with some soils projected to last for thousands of years. This emphasizes the urgent need to adopt sustainable soil management practices worldwide to ensure food security and environmental sustainability for future generations.

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Tags: Global soils, Soil decline, Conservation measures, Topsoil thinning, Sustainable agriculture