Management of Soil, Waste and Water in the Context of Global Climate Change
Kankan Datta, Swarnavo Chakraborty, Aryadeep Roychoudhury
Abstract
Rapid change in climate and surrounding environment has evoked major disturbances in daily life. Emission of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide and methane, from various industries, agricultural sector and frequent forest fires has highly escalated over the past 50 years and are expected to skyrocket over the next 30–40 years. Hence, various mitigation and bio-friendly approaches need to be carefully implemented to tackle the situation. However, such mitigation practices, due to improper planning, can sometimes themselves cause severe imbalance in nature. An integrated and well-planned management strategy is, therefore, the need of the hour. Afforestation and eco-friendly approach of crop cultivation and sustainable agriculture, with the regulated use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, with emphasis on organic farming, seem to be effective in proper soil management and preserving the biodiversity pool. Soil erosion prevention practices, including reduced tillage, can help in soil carbon retention and increase the water retention capacity of the soil. This can also prevent the major nutrient leaching events in the agricultural lands along the mountain slopes. Extensive use of irrigated water leads to considerable groundwater consumption, creating depletion in the groundwater pool. The problem is further aggravated by the groundwater contamination with heavy metals and industrial discharges. Although irrigated lands can hold better the water and minerals, such lands have also been found to be associated with inorganic fertilizers in higher doses, as compared to usual soil. These chemicals can later cause considerable groundwater contamination. Overexploitation of non-renewable fossil fuel sources not only depletes the natural resources but also culminates ultimately in greater emissions of obnoxious greenhouse gases. Typical usage of solar energy, biogas and biofuel as alternate energy sources can reduce the overall energy demand, as well as lower the level of atmospheric pollution. In terms of waste management, attention should be focused upon proper disposal and detoxification of industrial effluents and sewage, as well as clinical and radioactive wastes. Therefore, an overall strategic environment-friendly plan for soil, water and waste management should be implemented in the current scenario. The present chapter focuses upon proper management programs to manage soil, water and different environmental wastes in the wake of global climate change to ensure a better-habitable “green planet” and safe Mother Earth.