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Abstract
More than half population of India relies directly or indirectly on agriculture for their survival. With increasing population the pressure on land is increasing day by day. This increasing pressure resulted in the over exploitation of soil as resource, which leads to its degradation. Soil degradation refers to the reduction in the producing capacity of land by natural and human factors. Naturally it occurs by soil erosion by wind or water and human factors includes improper use or poor management, usually for agricultural, industrial or urban purposes. Soil degradation in India is estimated to be happening on 147 million hectares (Mha) of land, including 94 Mha from water erosion, 16 Mha from acidification, 14 Mha from flooding, 9 Mha from wind erosion, 6 Mha from salinity, and 7 Mha from a grouping of factors. Soil degradation is emerging as a serious environmental as well as agricultural problem. It is affecting agricultural productivity, which is a big problem because even now 90 percent of the food production comes from the soil. Soil degradation seriously undermines livelihood opportunities and leads to poverty, migration and food insecurity. This paper tried to highlight the problem of soil degradation in India with special reference to Haryana. It also suggests some techniques and strategies to combat with soil degradation.