Kohima: A multi-institutional research team led by Nagaland University has raised serious concerns over rapid soil degradation in the Dhansiripar region of Dimapur district. The study, conducted across six villages—Amaluma, Dhansiripar, Doyapur, Kiyeto, Melongmen and Razhaphe—found that current land-use practices are significantly harming soil health, posing risks to agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability.
Researchers documented strongly to moderately acidic soils, declining structural stability and sharp variations in nutrient availability. They examined how agricultural expansion, urbanisation and forest conversion are affecting key soil properties such as pH, bulk density, porosity, organic carbon and water-holding capacity. The findings, published in a Springer peer-reviewed journal, highlight a growing threat of erosion and fertility loss—concerns echoed by local farmers during initial field surveys.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Jagadish K. Patnaik stressed the need for immediate adoption of sustainable land-management practices to prevent further deterioration. Co-authors Prof. Manoj Dutta and Prof. Tanmoy Karak emphasised that the study’s comparative approach across paddy fields, orchards, cultivated plots and forests offers rare insight into soil dynamics in the region. Using advanced statistical tools, researchers were able to pinpoint land-use-specific vulnerabilities.
The team plans to undertake long-term monitoring, collaborate with local communities, and engage policymakers to promote evidence-based, sustainable land-use strategies aimed at strengthening soil resilience and ensuring long-term food security.
