Climate Change and Its Impact on Soil Fertility and Life Forms

Abstract

Climate change can disturb the characteristics of the soil either indirectly, or directly, or both. The direct effects include changes in the soil properties and composition by organic carbon transformation, precipitation, temperature, and % of moisture. The indirect impact includes nutrient cycling, improved soil erosion rate due to an increase in rate and intensity of rainfall, irrigation facility, changes in the crop rotation, and spadework practices. The presence of soil organic carbon (SOC) greatly influenced by the climatic condition. The crop cultivation depends upon the exchange of carbon between the troposphere and soil, which also vastly influences the fertility of the soil. The use, development, and management of soil depend upon soil structure, soil texture, soil stability, water holding capacity of the soil, availability of the nutrients, and erosion of the soil. Hence, deterioration of soil fertility by climatic change may affect the several soil lifeforms like fauna and flora either directly, or indirectly through nutritional value of the soil.