On this World Soil Day, The Interview World urges everyone to recognize the immense power beneath our feet. Soil feeds over 95% of the world’s food and sustains life itself. It purifies water, stores carbon, and nurtures biodiversity, foundations of a resilient planet.
Yet human activity relentlessly threatens this vital resource. Urban expansion, pollution, and unsustainable farming deplete soil of nutrients and reduce its productivity. As a result, food security, water quality, and climate stability are all at risk.
Action cannot wait. Communities, farmers, and policymakers must unite to protect and restore soil. Every effort matters, from sustainable farming practices to large-scale reforestation. By safeguarding soil today, we secure healthy food, clean water, and a stable climate for generations to come.
Against this backdrop, The Interview World had the privilege of speaking with Sushil Kumar Bahuguna, Commercial Leader – Agriculture & Process Industries, Momentive Performance Materials (India) Pvt. Ltd., at the 3rd Edition of BRAND R.Comm – Agriculture & Rural Communication Summit & Awards 2025, organized by Snail Integral Pvt. Ltd.
During the conversation, Sushil revealed how soil communicates, detailed strategies to combat carbon deficiency, explained the role of soil wetting on productivity, and outlined essential government interventions for soil health in India. He also shared the ideal carbon content for healthy soil.
Here are the key takeaways from his insightful and compelling conversation.
Q: Today is World Soil Day. You mentioned that soil can communicate. Could you explain how soil communicates and what you mean by that?
A: A healthy soil communicates through the productivity it can support. If the soil is lifeless, crops cannot grow, its message is clear in the land’s output.
Soil communicates in multiple ways. First, through its nutrients: a fertile soil provides the essential elements plants need to thrive. Second, through its microbial life: when soil hosts a robust population of microbes, it becomes more porous, allowing air to circulate freely. This enhanced aeration improves germination rates and ultimately boosts crop productivity.
In essence, soil speaks to plant growth through its vitality, nutrients, and microbial ecosystem. Healthy soil sets the stage for strong, productive crops.
Q: Lack of carbon is a widely discussed issue in India today. How can this problem be addressed, and what measures are needed to tackle it?
A: Soil carbon has become a critical challenge. We are extracting more carbon than we return, and the soil is paying the price. Think of it like a bank: if you don’t deposit, you cannot withdraw. Today, our soils face a deficit because we are intensifying cropping patterns without replenishing carbon.
The solution lies in carbon sequestration. We must restore carbon to the soil through organic matter and innovative products such as biozymes, kelp extracts, and plankton-based formulations, which are gradually entering the market. However, regulation is key. These products must enhance soil health without disrupting its balance.
Increasing microbial activity is essential. A high microbial population breaks down organic matter efficiently, returning carbon to the soil. Practical steps include leaving a portion of crop residues in the field. While the main harvest is removed, the remaining plant material enriches the soil, restores carbon content, and improves overall fertility.
By returning carbon to the soil consistently, we make it healthier, more productive, and resilient for future crops.
Q: Could you elaborate on soil wetting and explain how it affects soil productivity?
A: Soil compaction has emerged as a major challenge. When soil is compacted, water cannot penetrate evenly. Instead, it flows from higher areas to lower ones, leaving the upper land dry while the lower areas become waterlogged. This uneven wetting hinders plant growth and reduces overall productivity.
We need targeted interventions to ensure uniform wetting across the field. Advanced technologies can address this issue. For example, Momentive offers solutions that improve water infiltration in hard-to-wet soils, such as metamorphic soils, black cotton soils, and other dense or rocky terrains.
Proper wetting is critical. When soil absorbs water evenly, plants can access it efficiently, take up nutrients effectively, and thrive. Ultimately, this improves soil productivity and promotes healthier, more resilient crops.
Q: What measures should the government take to address soil health issues in India?
A: The government plays a crucial role in supplying nutrients to the farming community. This is its primary responsibility. Beyond provision, the government must also ensure that nutrient application aligns with its official recommendations. Different soils require different dosages, and to guide farmers, the government has introduced the Soil Health Card.
However, issuing these cards is only the first step. The government must monitor nutrient use continuously and integrate the data to provide farmers with real-time guidance, free of cost. This enables farmers to apply nutrients efficiently and effectively.
Overuse of chemical fertilizers is highly detrimental. It can alter soil structure and reduce long-term fertility. But when applied correctly, fertilizers enhance soil health and crop productivity. Proper management transforms a potential hazard into a powerful tool for sustainable agriculture.
Q: What is the ideal carbon content that soil should have?
A: One percent represents the baseline for healthy soil carbon. Today, however, it has dropped to just 0.3%, and in some regions, like parts of Rajasthan, it falls as low as 0.1–0.2%. This alarming decline indicates that our soils are in a critical state. Immediate action is needed to restore soil carbon levels to at least 1%.
