LAND RESOURCE LIMITATIONS

ALTHOUGH LAND APPEARS TO BE A LIMITLESS RESOURCE, ITS INJUDICIOUS USE WOULD LIMIT THE AVAILABILITY OF THIS INDISPENSABLE LIFE-SUPPORTING SYSTEM . ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES HAVE GREAT APPLICABILITY ON LAND USE PLANNING CLASSIFICATION OF LAND USE SHOULD BE BASED ON NATURAL ECOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE LAND IN IN QUESTION, KEEPING IN MIND THE SOIL TYPE, SLOPE, BIOTIC COMMUNITIES , ETC.

TO THE FARMER SOIL IS THE VERY ESSENCE OF LIFE AND SURVIVAL AND HIS ECONOMIC WELL BEING IS FIRMLY LINKED WITH THE FERTILITY OF HIS LAND VEGETATION COVER IS IMPORTANT TO BIND THE TOP SOIL AND PREVENT IT FROM EROSION AND LOSS OF FERTILITY. VEGETATION COVER ALSO SLOWS DOWN RUN-OFF OF WATER AND ALLOWS IT TO PERCOLATE INTO THE GROUND WHICH FURTHER ENCOURAGES PLANT GROWTH. ENGINEERING AND AGRONOMIC PRACTICES SHOULD BE APPLIED CONJOINTLY TO COUNTERACT THE EROSIVE FORCE OF BOTH WATER AND WIND ON THE SOIL. THESE INCLUDE CONTOUR CULTIVATION, COVER CROPS, CROP ROTATION AND STRIP CROPPING , USED ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH TERRACING WHERE IT IS REQUIRED.

HEALTHY SOILS ARE KEY COMPONENTS TO SUSTAINABILITY AS IT WOULD PRODUCE HEALTHY CROPS THAT GIVE GOOD YIELDS AND ARE ALSO PEST RESISTANT . SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION CAN HELP TO REDUCE CROP DEFICIENCY AND NUTRIENT IMBALANCE. SOIL FERTILITY CAN BE MAINTAINED BY ALTERNATE CROPPING , JUDICIOUS  INPUTS OF WATER-TRICKLE DRIP IRRIGATION, USE OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS, USE OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT AND BIOPESTICIDES, CONSERVATION TILLAGE AND AVOIDING PLOUGHING ON WET SOIL, MAINTAINING SOIL COVER WITH COVER CROPS OR MULCHES; FOREST CONSERVATION AND LAND REFORMS. RESTORATION OF SOIL FERTILITY CAN BE MADE BY RECOVERING MINERALS FROM DECOMPOSED LEAVES, TWIGS DEAD ROOTS, DEAD ANIMALS AND ANIMAL EXCRETA. ADDITION OF FARM YARD  MANURE OR GREEN MANURE ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL FERTILIZERS WILL STABILIZE THE SOIL'S FERTILITY.