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Establishing Linkages of Soil Carbon Dynamics with Microbes Mediated Ecological Restoration of Degraded Ecosystems in Indian Himalayan Region

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Soil Carbon Dynamics in Indian Himalayan Region

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Abstract

The Himalayan region is one of the planet’s most distinctive mountain ecosystems as a result of its geography, altitude, and biological diversity. Mountain ecosystems throughout the world are being affected by overuse of resources, widespread land conversion, and climate change. Despite their rich biodiversity and diverse ecosystems, mountains are facing an increasing pressure from land conversion, industrialization, and climate change. Between 2000 and 2025, food production in developing nations, now estimated at 1223 million metric tonnes (Mt), should increase by 778 million Mt, or 2.5% annually, to fulfill the demands of an expanding population and an anticipated change in diet. SOC is regarded as the most important indicator of soil quality and agricultural sustainability. Focusing on improving soil quality and agronomic productivity per unit area through an increase in the soil organic carbon pool provides the most additional advantages among all the others. Adopting suggested management techniques on arable lands and degraded soils would improve soil quality. Cropland deterioration is accelerated by increased agricultural activity, and restoration has been controlled by modifying the vegetation on the land. However, little is known about the crucial microbiome that fuels the degradation of organic materials linked to plants during vegetation regeneration. Ecological rehabilitation of deteriorated areas has gradually increased public awareness and sparked widespread concern around the world. Thus, this chapter will focus on the role of microbes and their functioning in enhancing SOC and in the restoration of the degraded agricultural ecosystems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Environment Assessment and Climate Change, G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Almora, India

    Supriya Pandey, Sumit Rai & Anand Singh Bisht

  2. Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Parsauni East Champaran, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, India

    Ashish Rai

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  1. Supriya Pandey
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  2. Sumit Rai
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  3. Anand Singh Bisht
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  4. Ashish Rai
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

    Gaurav Mishra

  2. Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun, India

    Krishna Giri

  3. Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar, Assam, India

    Arun Jyoti Nath

  4. Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Rome, Italy

    Rosa Francaviglia

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Pandey, S., Rai, S., Bisht, A.S., Rai, A. (2023). Establishing Linkages of Soil Carbon Dynamics with Microbes Mediated Ecological Restoration of Degraded Ecosystems in Indian Himalayan Region. In: Mishra, G., Giri, K., Nath, A.J., Francaviglia, R. (eds) Soil Carbon Dynamics in Indian Himalayan Region. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-3303-7_7

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