'Soilification': A Biotechnological Solution to Combat Desertification and Boost Food Security
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Science and Technology (Biotechnology in Agriculture); Environment & Ecology (Desertification, Land Degradation); Geography of India (Thar Desert, Aravalli Range); Agriculture.
Mains:
General Studies Paper 1 (Geography): Salient features of world’s physical geography; Geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (e.g., desertification).
General Studies Paper 3 (Agriculture, S&T, Environment): Major crops cropping patterns; Issues related to land reforms; Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation; Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life; Achievements of Indians in science & technology; Indigenization of technology.
Key Highlights from the News
Rajasthan Central University researchers succeeded in converting the sand of Thar desert in Rajasthan into arable soil and cultivating wheat.
This technology, called 'Soilification,' was made possible using an indigenous bioformulation.
How this technology works:
Increases water-retention efficacy in sand.
Improves soil structure by binding sand particles together.
Stimulates microbial activity in the soil, enhancing plant immunity.
Achievements in the experiment:
Only three irrigations were needed with this method, whereas normal wheat cultivation requires 5-6 irrigations.
Achieved twice the yield compared to conventional dryland farming.
Researchers state that this technology has great potential to prevent desertification, ensure the country's food security, and increase farmers' income.
The destruction of the Aravalli ranges is a major reason for the eastward expansion of the Thar desert.
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