Restoring Soil Health of Degraded Lands Through Eco-Friendly Nutrient Management Practices in Regenerative Agriculture

Regenerative agriculture embraces holistic agriculture, focusing on soil well-being, biodiversity, and sustainability, promoting a comprehensive response to pressing natural challenges. Land degradation is a very critical problem in present-day conditions. Approximately 33% of soils worldwide suffer from mild to severe erosion, with 40% of degraded soils in Africa and 29.5% in India. Critical concerns that affect the rural segment include soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Revival of almost 47 million km2 of farmland across the country, ensuring food security and reducing global warming to prevent temperature rises 2 °C, will require swift action. To achieve this goal, practices like green manuring, cover cropping, mulching, etc., will be helpful. The growing use of biofertilizers and natural excrement also provides further advantages for farmers. Apart from these, farmers should get technical education to automate their farms through remote sensing and drones. Emphasis on soil health is essential to sustainable gardening, promoting primary environmental forms, cycling supplements, maintaining water levels, and impacting plant health, natural health, and food security. Using nano-fertilizer and following site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) will ensure better nutrient use efficiency, help reduce fertilizer application, and maintain soil health. Therefore, regenerative agriculture promotes long-term soil health, improves agricultural productivity, and lowers reliance on synthetic fertilizers; restoring degraded areas contributes significantly to the fight against land degradation. Despite having all the necessary features, farmers are unaware of this technology, which requires government intervention and policy modification. Standardized approaches and public education are crucial to ensuring this technology’s comprehensive promotion and adoption; further research is still needed to advance regeneration agriculture technologies to adapt to changing climate challenges.