ABSTRACT
Maintaining soils in good health is most important for sustainable food and nutrition security of rising populations, as well as various ecosystem services including climate regulation. Improper management has led to a widespread soil fertility decline and low soil carbon levels resulting in a decline in agricultural productivity. Precise diagnosis followed by need-based amendments is the key for sustainable intensification. Deficient micro and secondary nutrient amendments are low hanging technologies to harness productivity benefits to the tune of 20 to 50% coupled with improved nutritional quality, resource use efficiency, carbon sequestration and associated benefits in the allied livestock sector through effects on residue quantity and quality, which are important feed components. Balanced fertilization is key in improving uptake, utilization and use efficiency in nitrogen, a global challenge, and producing more crop per drop. Building the soil carbon level is important for sustainable intensification due to its direct relation with the yield and also as an adaptation and mitigation strategy for climate change. Recycling large quantities of carbon and nutrients in agricultural and domestic wastes into composts as soil amendments is a potential opportunity. Conservation agriculture, i.e. minimal soil disturbance and retaining crop residues on the soil surface, needs to be studied thoroughly for potential benefits in soil health and sustainable intensification. Problem soils, especially salt-affected soils and their increasing areas due to secondary salinization, need proper attention for corrective amendments along with other management practices. Desired policies to promote need-based soil amendments hold the key for sustainable intensification.
