Soil Degradation under a Changing Climate: Management from Traditional to Nano-Approaches

IN THE ERA of anthropogenic climate change, soil and other compartments of the agroecosystem suffer from various forms of degradation, meaning there is an urgent need for appropriate soil management. Under arid and semi-arid conditions, the degradation of soil and water are particularly severe globally, causing a decline in agricultural productivity. Soil degradation has led to decreased soil quality, global food insecurity, ecosystem health problems, and non-sustainable development issues. Several human activities have worsened soil degradation, especially under global climate change. With growing interest in nanotechnology, can this science offer solutions/approaches to engineer soil and water amendments to overcome soil degradation and water scarcity? What are the possible nanomaterials and their mechanisms that might be used to protect the environment. This study focuses on soil degradation causes and consequences, as well as different management approaches including traditional, geographic information systems and remote sensing, and nano approaches for the management of soil degradation. Soil degradation that may be experienced after the intensive application of nanomaterials is a major concern that urgently needs to be researched. There is also a need to assess the long-term environmental impacts of nanoparticles, which may have potential for leaching and accumulation in soil from which they enter the food chain, causing many problems for human health.