Agricultural Land Degradation: Processes and Problems Undermining Future Food Security
Despite significant progress in increasing agricultural production, meeting the changing dietary preferences and increasing food demands of future populations remain significant challenges. This is especially the case in developing countries. Climate chan
- PDF / 890,454 Bytes
- 45 Pages / 439.37 x 666.142 pts Page_size
- 44 Downloads / 239 Views
Agricultural Land Degradation: Processes and Problems Undermining Future Food Security Akbar Hossain , Timothy J. Krupnik , Jagadish Timsina , M. Golam Mahboob , Apurbo Kumar Chaki , Muhammad Farooq Rajan Bhatt , Shah Fahad , and Mirza Hasanuzzaman
,
Abstract Despite significant progress in increasing agricultural production, meeting the changing dietary preferences and increasing food demands of future populations remain significant challenges. This is especially the case in developing countries. Climate change and variability, unstable markets, and shrinking arable land resources that result from urbanization and industrialization represent additional challenges. In many countries – especially those with dense populations and/ or diverse ecosystems in need of conservation – expanding agriculture to new lands to increase production is not an option. Conversely, where farmers’ practices result in land degradation and deterioration of soils and natural resources upon which future productivity depends, urgent research and policy attention is needed to arrest and reverse declines in land degradation and adverse soil quality in consideration of mounting global demands for agricultural goods. This chapter provides a synopsis of agricultural land degradation issues while providing potential solutions to reverse
A. Hossain (*) Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute (BWMRI), Dinajpur, Bangladesh T. J. Krupnik International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Sustainable Intensification Program, Dhaka, Bangladesh J. Timsina Institute for Studies and Development Worldwide, Sydney, Australia M. G. Mahboob ASICT Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur, Bangladesh A. K. Chaki On-Farm Research Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur, Bangladesh School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020 S. Fahad et al. (eds.), Environment, Climate, Plant and Vegetation Growth, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49732-3_2
17
18
A. Hossain et al.
soil quality decline through an understanding of integrated land management practices. In addition to methodologically describing the impacts of land degradation on agricultural productivity, the chapter provides up-to-date information for the specialists in the fields of agricultural development, soil science, topography, economics, and ecological management. Options for appropriate policy frameworks to mitigate the degradation of agricultural land at the international, regional and national levels are discussed and proposed. Keywords Food security · Drought · Land degradation · Salinity · Erosion · Soil contamination · Soil acidity · Sustainable ag riculture
Abbreviations Cd cadmium Cu copper EC electrical conductivity Fe iron FAO Food and Agricultural Organization GHG greenhouse gas emissions GLADA An on-going assessment within the FAO’s Global Assessment of Lands Degradation and Improvement project GLASOD The Global Assessment o
Data Loading...
