Soil Health: Issues and Concerns - A Review

This paper brings out the importance of soil fertility management (SFM) with respect to agricultural production and livelihood contribution to the rural people. It looks into the farmers' own knowledge systems and how they contribute to the sustainable soil fertility management. The review clearly brings to the fore the fact that livestock is crucial to maintain soil fertility, supply of draught power, food for the family and to increase the agricultural productivity, especially in dry lands. It examines the role of social, economic, ecological and livelihood factors in soil fertility management. Soil fertility management options available to farmers are being undermined by government policies that primarily focus on chemical fertiliser-based strategies. The paper suggests that government policies related to soil fertility management be more enabling interms of creating conditions for the use of locally available resources, skills and knowledge.