Why soils are dying, and how we can save them
FAST FACTS
The majority of soils in South Africa are degraded, with areas receiving less than 600mm of rain a year at particularly high risk.
The overuse of agricultural chemicals such as fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides contributes to soil degradation.
Agricultural waste, such as excess plant material, provides an ideal source of organic matter that can be used to rehabilitate poor soil.
South Africa is a predominantly semiarid country that struggles with dryland degradation. Drylands are areas that face significant water scarcity, while soil degradation refers to the loss of the biological or economic productivity of land. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations defines soil degradation as a change in soil
