Explainer: Nitrogen and organic carbon are low in Indian soil; learn why this study surprised everyone.

India is known worldwide for its fertile soil, where a variety of crops and plants flourish. However, a new study has revealed that the health of the country's soil is deteriorating. According to this study, Indian soil is severely deficient in essential elements like nitrogen and organic carbon. Amit Khurana, Food Systems Programme Director at CSE, said, "Focusing on just 12 chemical parameters doesn't reflect the overall health of the soil. The Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN) by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations recommends including physical and biological indicators as well." Meanwhile, Apurva Ojha, Global Lead (Agriculture) at the Aga Khan Foundation, said, "India has 140 million farmer families. In the last two years, only 11 million received soil cards. The question is what is being measured, why, and who is measuring it?"