By Joseck Alwala.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines human health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Also, it recognizes that inequities in the distribution of power, wealth, and resources of any country are directly proportional to soil.
According to Healthy People 2020, the five key social determinants of health (SDOH) are: economic stability; education; social and community context; health and health care, and neighborhood and built environment. Within each of these five SDOH are a number of key underlying factors, many of which arguably depend on soil health, which has been defined as “the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.”
The concepts of soil analysis began since time immemorial. In the hindmost years of 19th century, Justus von Liebig introduced the idea. Agricultural scientists worked on samples of soil in laboratories, greenhouses and small field. Traditionally, it was known as “balance-sheet” theory of plant nutrition and it was domiciled in the laboratory. Early geologists embraced the idea and described soil as disintegrated rock of sandstone.
Generally, soil surveys were made to help farmers ascertain soils susceptibility to diverse management practices. In addition, it assisted them resolve what crops and management practices were most fitting. Approaches in soil science were taught in many classrooms until the late 1920s and became an art of crop production. However, problems such as analysis, interpretation, and administrative were encountered.
Sadly, the crème de la crème of society including scientists and politicians indifferently watch television narrations of the unfolding events of poor soil testing management. They ignore or forget to train the public on modern methods of soil testing like clod, ribbon, excavation, electrical conductivity, and soil respiration surface, heavy volumetric water content, crusting and surface cover.
Soil analysis needs to undergo the following tests: physical analysis, nutrient analysis, and microbial activity analysis. Each of the tests should be subjected to Soil sample collection, laboratory analysis, interpretation of results, fertilizer or other management recommendation and its impact on human health, including exposures to toxins and pathogenic organisms. Ministry of Agriculture must construct soil laboratories across the forty seven counties. Prevalence of successful soil testing program is paramount.
A good soil testing program is essential not only to sound fertilizer use but also on how chemicals react within the chemical and biological soil ecosystem, and what those reactions mean for human health. The soil test value manifests how serious the deficiency is and provides a platform for many subsequent judgments by citizens.
There is a need to integrate soil ecology and agronomic crop production with human health. Dissemination of soil test methods to our broader society is essential. Multidisciplinary teams of researchers must move these issues forward because soil testing influences human health and grows economy of a nation.
