Deterioration in soil fertility

Demineralization of the soil
Soil exhaustion
Depleted soil nutrients
Depletion of soil nutrients
Sterile soils
Impoverishment of soils
Micronutrient mining of soil

Nature

Minerals, humus and other organic compounds are removed from the soil in harvested crops or forests or by leaching aggravated by erosion. Soils become impoverished when these depleting processes exceed replacement rates. Soil microorganisms are then unable to obtain the nutrients they need to regenerate soil, rendering the soil increasingly unable to sustain plants and animals.

Background

Deterioration in soil fertility emerged as a global concern in the mid-20th century, when intensified agricultural practices and the Green Revolution revealed widespread declines in soil productivity. Scientific studies in the 1970s and 1980s linked nutrient depletion, erosion, and loss of organic matter to unsustainable land management. International organizations, such as FAO and UNEP, began documenting the phenomenon, highlighting its implications for food security and ecosystem health in global assessments and policy discussions.

Incidence

When fertilizers are added to a crop, the plants absorb not only the extra nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium from the fertilizer, but also proportionately increased levels of micronutrients from the soil, including zinc, iron and copper. Over years, the soil becomes deficient in these micronutrients. Lack of them inhibits a plant's capacity to absorb nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Claim

Demineralization leads to the ultimate impoverishment of the soil on which the fate of the biosphere depends.

Counter-claim

The so-called “deterioration in soil fertility” is vastly overstated and hardly a pressing concern. Modern agriculture has advanced with fertilizers and technology that easily compensate for any minor nutrient loss. Food production continues to rise, proving that soil fertility is not a limiting factor. Worrying about this issue distracts from real environmental challenges. It’s time to stop exaggerating the importance of soil fertility and focus on problems that actually matter.