Sustainable Solutions to Combat Soil Erosion Using Biogenic Agents

Soil erosion is a major concern that needs to be addressed for the health of an ecosystem. It is a primary constraint to agriculture, affecting the yield, water quality at the source, and soil health. It is often a result of anthropogenic activities like deforestation, unhealthy irrigation and agricultural practices and overgrazing, etc., and leads to degradation of the environment. Soil erosion is a threat of significant magnitude that needs to be addressed in regions of large agricultural productivity like Asia underlining the need for mitigation measures. Structural interventions like check dams, silt traps, etc. are extensively used to deter soil erosion. However, these interventions are not integral to the natural environment and adversely affect the ecosystem. This study reviews the various biogeotechnological methods to control soil erosion and conserve the soil. Biological interventions like vegetative cover on slopes have long been practiced to control soil erosion in select zones. Biogenic additives to soil that improve the resistance of soil against soil erosion need detailed investigation. In line with this observation, this study will review biogenic stabilizers like vegetative cover, biopolymers, and biochar and their efficacy in controlling soil erosion. The effect of this biogenic stabilizer against soil erosion caused by wind and water will be discussed in detail. These methods do not only help in controlling soil erosion but also improve soil health and promote vegetative growth. These soil additives offer environment-friendly, carbon–neutral/carbon-negative, and sustainable alternatives to structural interventions that are used to control soil erosion. They will improve soil health which in turn will lead to increased agricultural productivity and alleviate hunger and will help in conserving soil and end desertification (SDG 2 and 15).