Soil Science vs Natural Resource Management
I truly love Soil, because (Professor B.B.Mishra):
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
(viii)
(ix)
(x)
Soil is a three dimensional unit of natural resource forming the foundation of infinite
number of living beings/lives for their survival and nourishment through quality food, pure
water, clean air (agro-bio-hydro-ecology) and protective medicines even (penicillin).
Soil is a strange full of wisdom that needs further to be discovered to sustain our livelihood
to full satisfaction (gross happiness in natural environment).
Soil is the lowest boundary of entire earth’s atmosphere (excluding ocean/rock outcrop)
and subject to ultimate interaction of incoming radiations reaching therein and forms a
powerful platform to monitor the diversified modes of changes including climate as a whole,
but, we lack wisdom to develop technologies as indicators. Photopedogenesis as a new
chapter in Soil Science ( B.B.Mishra) may form the beginning in this endeavor, but surely it
needs completeness in quantitative terms in days to come.
Soil is one’s destiny that controls not only our instinct and livelihood, but also the body
colour, intelligence and habits. Unfortunately, soil is virtually neglected particularly in its
scientific mode and so I often say that Soil Science is at its “youthful stage”.
Soil has its unit called “Pedon”, but its application is hidden and we are conscious mainly
about top soil (0-25 cm) as if pedology is buried and pedon is dead in most of soil’s practical
applications across the globe. The present day soil science is confined mostly to edaphology.
Soil imposes heterogeneity even at micro level and its scientific classification could not have
been made acceptable to globe until now. Currently, we are looking for a common and
acceptable system called “Universal Soil Classification”.
Soil may be edible and eaten directly even by human beings (pregnant ladies, children,
normal ones) provided that it has edible quality, nutritive value, non-toxic and non-hygeinic
elements like Pb and so. Riverbed fine clays, kaolin and bentonite are preferred examples.
Such soil type mixed with vegetables in oil/salt is used in some part of globe.
Soil is compared with sun as being a natural resource. It suffers from human interferences
greatly. Since sun never feels tired and gives light and heat to entire its system, soil should
also need no rest and maintain sustainability while being engaged.
As a natural resource (any physical unit of the environment that is subject to production),
soil cannot be a “waste”. So, there is need to evaluate the soil for potential productivity,
identification of limitations followed by improvement, then identification of suitability of
land uses in specific rotation (in case of annual crops) followed by fertility levels and
fertilizer recommendation on soil test values. This forms the true work calendar of a true
soil scientist. Just with completion of such set rule, the soil of the given land may be
transferred to Agronomist or any other farm scientist for management of suitable landuse
(for example, crops).
Thus, soil for a soil scientist is a natural resource forming a foundation as above (i), whereas
soil for agronomist or farm scientist is merely a means for management according to
requirements of landuse choice as already identified by soil scientist before transfer with
(xi)
valid recommendation. As such, responsibilities of a soil scientist need to be well defined
and demarcated.
In view of the above facts, it is a blunder to use natural resource management often as
synonym to soil science in all scientific fairness. As a soil scientist, I respect soil as the
foundation of lives and it requires cares. Once a soil is cared, it acts as a resource (having
capability to produce) and that too is natural.