India agricultural soils are critically deficient in key nutrients such as nitrogen and organic carbon, according to new findings by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Released at the National Conclave on Sustainable Food Systems in Nimli, Rajasthan, the assessment raises alarms about declining soil fertility and its implications for crop productivity and climate resilience.
Based on data from the government’s Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme, the study found that 64 per cent of soil samples were “low” in nitrogen and nearly 49 per cent were “low” in organic carbon. These deficits not only threaten food security but also weaken India capacity to store carbon a key factor in mitigating climate change. The report estimates that Indian soils could sequester about 6–7 teragrams of carbon annually if managed sustainably.
Titled Sustainable Food Systems: An Agenda for Climate-Risked Times the CSE report examines how India can transition toward more resilient and sustainable agriculture. Experts at the conclave discussed soil health, carbon markets, crop insurance, weather forecasting, and emissions from livestock and poultry sectors as part of a broader climate adaptation agenda.
However the report highlighted major limitations in the SHC scheme, launched in 2015 under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture. The scheme assesses only 12 chemical parameters, leaving out physical and biological aspects that are crucial for a complete understanding of soil health.
“International standards like FAO’s GLOSOLAN recommend including physical and biological indicators for a holistic soil assessment,” said Amit Khurana, Director of CSE’s Food Systems Programme.
Coverage gaps also remain a concern soil testing has reached only around 10 million of India’s 140 million farmer households, noted Apoorva Oza, Global Lead for Agriculture and Food Security at the Aga Khan Foundation.
The CSE study further warned that current fertiliser usage patterns are failing to restore soil nutrients. “This indicates inefficiency in application practices and calls for corrective policy measures,” Khurana said.
Among sustainable alternatives, the report identified biochar a carbon-rich material produced through biomass pyrolysis as a promising solution. Biochar can enhance soil fertility, improve moisture retention, and increase carbon storage. Yet, India still lacks standardised production protocols and large-scale adoption mechanisms.
Experts at the conclave called for stronger policy frameworks, wider soil monitoring, and farmer incentives to rebuild soil health the foundation of India’s sustainable agriculture future.