Soil Organic Carbon Condition in India: Current Status and Future Outlook

CropBioLife
Jun 20
3 min read

Current Status

The soil organic carbon (SOC) content in India has declined significantly over the past several decades. In the 1950s, Indian soils typically had SOC levels around 1%, but recent assessments show this has dropped to between 0.3% and 0.4% in most agricultural regions.
This level is well below the generally accepted minimum threshold for healthy soils, which is considered to be 1–1.5% SOC.

Implications of Low SOC

SOC is crucial for soil fertility, structure, water retention, and the survival of beneficial microorganisms. Its decline negatively affects crop productivity and overall soil health.

The main causes for this decline include intensive cultivation, overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, poor crop management, excessive tillage and accelerated soil erosion.

🌱 What is Soil Organic Carbon?

Soil Organic Carbon is the carbon component of organic compounds found in soil. These compounds come from decomposed plant and animal materials, microbial biomass and organic amendments. SOC is an essential indicator of soil health, affecting nutrient cycling, soil structure and biological activity.

📉 Current Status of Soil Organic Carbon in India

🗺 National Average and Regional VariationAccording to data from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP), the average SOC content in Indian soils ranges from 0.3% to 0.6%, which is considered low compared to global standards.

High SOC is found in forested and hilly regions such as the Western Ghats, parts of the Northeast, and the Himalayan foothills.
Low SOC is common in arid and semi-arid regions like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Land Use ImpactLand use patterns significantly influence SOC levels. Agricultural lands, especially those under intensive mono-cropping and conventional tillage, tend to have lower SOC due to continuous removal of biomass and inadequate organic matter input. In contrast, forested areas and grasslands tend to maintain higher SOC levels.
Soil Degradation and Carbon LossIndia faces widespread land degradation, affecting about 29.3% of its total geographical area. Erosion, salinization, deforestation and unsustainable agricultural practices have led to the depletion of SOC in many areas, reducing soil productivity and resilience.

⚠ Factors Affecting SOC in India

Climate: Temperature and rainfall influence organic matter decomposition and SOC stabilization. Warmer temperatures in many parts of India accelerate decomposition, leading to carbon loss.
Cropping Systems: Rice-wheat systems in the Indo-Gangetic plains and cotton-based systems in the Deccan plateau are associated with declining SOC due to high soil disturbance and limited crop residue return.
Excessive reliance on chemical fertilizers without adequate organic inputs reduces microbial activity and carbon inputs.
Deforestation and Land Use Change: Conversion of forests and pastures to croplands or urban areas results in the immediate and long-term decline in SOC stocks.

🌾 Government and Policy Initiatives

To address SOC depletion, several initiatives have been launched:

Soil Health Card Scheme: Provides farmers with information on soil quality and recommends appropriate practices to improve fertility and carbon content.
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): Promotes practices like organic farming, agroforestry and conservation agriculture to enhance SOC.
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Encourages organic farming practices that improve SOC and overall soil health.

🔮 Future Outlook and Recommendations

To improve SOC levels across India, a multi-pronged approach is essential:

Promoting Organic Matter Inputs: Incorporating crop residues, green manure and compost can help rebuild SOC.
Adopting Conservation Agriculture: Minimal tillage, cover cropping and crop rotation can reduce carbon loss.
Agroforestry and Reforestation: Integrating trees with farming systems enhances carbon sequestration.
Monitoring and Mapping: High-resolution soil carbon mapping and long-term monitoring programs are needed for better planning and intervention.
Farmer Education and Incentives: Training and incentivizing farmers to adopt carbon-friendly practices will ensure widespread implementation.

🌾 Summary Table: Key Facts on Soil Organic Carbon in India

Aspect	Value/Status
SOC in 1950s	~1%
SOC in 2020s	0.3–0.4%
Healthy SOC threshold	1–1.5%
SOC stock (0–30 cm)	9.6 Pg
SOC stock (0–150 cm)	29.9 Pg
Regions most affected	Arid/semi-arid, intensive agriculture
Restoration strategies	Organic amendments, conservation tillage, crop rotation