Impact of Agricultural Soil Degradation on Water and Food Security

Abstract

Irrigation is the main component in food production systems; however, it has led to significant changes in water supply and land use patterns, where inappropriate soil and water management caused substantial environmental problems. The mismanagement practice led to soil degradation (such as salinity and nutrient transportation), which in turn caused an increase in water demand and a decrease in land productivity. In order to balance this situation, chemical fertilizers were used extensively to increase crops yield and excessive irrigation water is used to decrease soil salinity. Nevertheless, the use of chemical inputs resulted in salts buildup, and the tendency to apply excess water for irrigation created a problem of waterlogging. Moreover, regarding the increasing water demand, the excess irrigation water puts more pressure on the available water resources, especially in water scarcity regions. To emerge from this vicious cycle, it is extremely important to adopt strategies and techniques that ensure soil sustainability. This includes improving soil and water management practices, such as adopting proper crop rotation, enhancing soil drainage, improving irrigation efficiencies, using crops that are appropriate for particular climates, and capacity building for farmers.