Published: 13th Dec, 2021
Context
Plastic pollution has become pervasive in agricultural soils, according to a new report released by the UN agriculture agency, posing a threat to food security, people’s health, and the environment.
About
Understanding the structure of soil
- The soil is the mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, water and air, and other organism and also the attribute of the earth’s outermost layer crust.
- The parent material of soil called as a rock, that goes under several transformations due to the influence of number factors such as climate, wind and other chemical activity.
Types of Soil in India:
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) divided the Indian soils into eight major groups namely Alluvial Soils, Black Soils, Red Soils, Laterite Soils, Forest and Mountain Soils, Arid and Desert Soils, Saline and Alkaline Soils, Peaty, and Marshy Soils.
Features, composition and geographical distribution of soil are briefly tabled in the below section:
|
Type |
Feature |
Distribution |
Dominant Crops |
|
Alluvial Soil |
Khaddar- light in color, more siliceous. Bhaggar- the older alluvium is composed of lime nodules has clayey composition. It is dark in color. |
Ganga and Brahmaputra river valleys; Plains of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Punjab, Haryana, West Bengal, and Bihar. |
Rice, Wheat, Sugarcane, Oilseeds |
|
Desert Soil |
Contain a high percentage of soluble salts but are poor in organic matter; rich enough in phosphate though poor in nitrogen |
Rajasthan, Northern Gujarat, and southern Punjab |
Wheat, grams, melon, bajra |
|
Black Soil |
The soils are derived from basalts of Deccan trap. Consist of calcium and magnesium carbonates; high quantities of iron, aluminum, lime, and magnesia. |
Maharashtra and Malwa plateaus, Kathiawar peninsula, Telangana and Rayalaseema region of Andhra and northern part of Karnataka |
Cotton, Millets (Include Jowar, Bajra, and Ragi), Tobacco, Sugarcane |
|
Red Soil |
Mainly formed due to decomposition of ancient crystalline rocks like granites and gneisses and from rock type rich in minerals such as iron and magnesium. Siliceous and aluminous in nature. |
Eastern parts Deccan plateau, southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and Chota Nagpur plateau |
Wheat, Rice, Cotton, Sugarcane, Pulses |
|
Grey and Brown |
A semi-arid tract of Rajasthan and Gujarat |
Cotton, Oilseeds |
|
|
Laterite Soil |
Composed mainly of hydrated oxides of iron and aluminum; loss of silica from the soil profile |
Assam hills, the hill of summits of Kerala and Karnataka and Eastern Ghats region of Orissa |
Coffee, Rubber, Cashew nuts, Tapioca |
|
Mountain soil |
Coniferous forest belt of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Sikkim |
Fruit, Tea |
|
About plastics
Negative side
Positive side
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Why plastic is becoming a challenge?
- Impact on soil: Microplastics can interact with soil fauna, affecting their health and soil functions.
- Harmful chemical affecting ecosystem: Chlorinated plastic can release harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil, which can then seep into water sources affecting the ecosystem.
- Polluting emission: Plastics film have been shown to release potentially carcinogenic phthalate acid esters into the soil, which can be taken up in vegetables and so, risk to human health
- Toxic for Human health: These toxic chemicals are now being found in our bloodstream and the latest research has found them to disrupt the Endocrine system which can cause cancer, infertility, birth defects, impaired immunity, and many other ailments.
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Steps taken by various stakeholders-
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