
Balancing Tradition and Innovation: Ecological Impacts of Intensive Farming on Soil Health in Telangana, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v7i7.9886Abstract
Intensive farming practices, aimed at maximizing crop yields through substantial inputs of labour, technology, and chemical fertilizers, have significantly transformed modern agriculture. However, these methods have raised serious concerns regarding soil health, environmental sustainability, and long-term agricultural viability. This study examines the ecological impact of intensive farming on soil health in the KB Asifabad District of Telangana, India, where traditional and modern farming techniques coexist. The objectives include analysing socio-economic factors influencing farming methods, evaluating the impact of tilling techniques and fertilizer use on soil health, and promoting sustainable practices through education and policy recommendations. Findings reveal a strong reliance on chemical fertilizers, with 98.3% of farmers using them exclusively due to their perceived efficiency and rapid results. However, this overdependence has led to soil degradation, reduced microbial diversity, and environmental pollution. Conversely, despite its ecological benefits, natural manure remains underutilized due to scepticism and economic constraints. Mechanical tilling methods, while effective, have negatively impacted soil structure and fertility. The study highlights the necessity of transitioning to sustainable practices, integrating organic inputs, and adopting conservation techniques to restore soil health and ecosystem balance. This research provides practical pathways for achieving sustainable agriculture by integrating traditional knowledge with modern practices. It is particularly relevant for policymakers, agricultural extension services, and farming communities as it highlights the need for educational initiatives, financial incentives, and regulatory measures to ensure long-term soil fertility, environmental stewardship, and improved farmer livelihoods.
Keywords:
Intensive Farming; Soil Health; Sustainable Agriculture; Chemical Fertilizers; Natural ManureReferences
[1] Turcotte, M.M., Araki, H., Karp, D.S., et al., 2017. The eco-evolutionary impacts of domestication and agricultural practices on wild species. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 372(1712), 20160033. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/RSTB.2016.0033
[2] Ahmed, N., Al-Mutairi, K.A., 2022. Earthworms Effect on Microbial Population and Soil Fertility as Well as Their Interaction with Agriculture Practices. Sustainability. 14(13), 7803. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/SU14137803
[3] Dhankhar, N., Kumar, J., 2023. Impact of increasing pesticides and fertilizers on human health: A review. Materials Today: Proceedings. In Press, Corrected Proof. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATPR.2023.03.766
[4] Alvi, M.H., Ali, H., Haider, K., et al., 2024. Chemically Degraded Soil: Strategies for Mitigating Its Toxicity and Enhancing Sustainable Crop Production. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. 25(1), 363–381. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/S42729-024-02138-5
[5] Bhunia, S., Bhowmik, A., Mallick, R., et al., 2021. Agronomic Efficiency of Animal-Derived Organic Fertilizers and Their Effects on Biology and Fertility of Soil: A Review. Agronomy. 11(5), 823. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/AGRONOMY11050823
[6] Hussain, S., Hussain, S., Guo, R., et al., 2021. Carbon Sequestration to Avoid Soil Degradation: A Review on the Role of Conservation Tillage. Plants. 10(10), 2001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/PLANTS10102001
[7] Fenetiruma, O.A., Kamakaula, Y., 2023. Ecological and Cultural Balance in Traditional Agriculture: An Environmental Anthropological Approach. Global International Journal of Innovative Research. 1(2), 68–77.
[8] Hemathilake, D.M.K.S., Gunathilake, D.M.C.C., 2022. Agricultural productivity and food supply to meet increased demands. In: Bhat, R. (ed.). Future Foods: Global Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainability Challenges. Elsevier: Amsterdam, Netherlands. pp. 539–553. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91001-9.00016-5
[9] Rahman, M.M., Alam, M.S., Kamal, M.Z.U., et al., 2020. Organic Sources and Tillage Practices for Soil Management. In: Kumar, S., Meena, R.S., Jhariya, M.K. (eds.). Resources Use Efficiency in Agriculture. Springer: Singapore. pp. 283–328. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6953-1_9
[10] Zhang, Y., Tan, C., Wang, R., et al., 2021. Conservation tillage rotation enhanced soil structure and soil nutrients in long-term dryland agriculture. European Journal of Agronomy. 131, 126379. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EJA.2021.126379
[11] Shaheb, M.R., Venkatesh, R., Shearer, S.A., 2021. A Review on the Effect of Soil Compaction and its Management for Sustainable Crop Production. Journal of Biosystems Engineering. 46(4), 417–439. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/S42853-021-00117-7
[12] Nadarajan, S., Sukumaran, S., 2021. Chemistry and toxicology behind chemical fertilizers. In: Lewu, F.B., Volova, T., Thomas, S., et al. (eds.). Controlled Release Fertilizers for Sustainable Agriculture. Elsevier: Amsterdam, Netherlands. pp. 195–229. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-819555-0.00012-1
[13] Page, K.L., Dang, Y.P., Dalal, R.C., 2020. The Ability of Conservation Agriculture to Conserve Soil Organic Carbon and the Subsequent Impact on Soil Physical, Chemical, and Biological Properties and Yield. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 4, 31. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/FSUFS.2020.00031
[14] Singh, T.B., Ali, A., Prasad, M., et al., 2020. Role of Organic Fertilizers in Improving Soil Fertility. In: Naeem, M., Ansari, A., Gill, S. (eds.). Contaminants in Agriculture. Springer: Cham, Switzerland. pp. 61–77. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41552-5_3
[15] Issaka, S., Ashraf, M.A., 2017. Impact of soil erosion and degradation on water quality: a review. Geology, Ecology, and Landscapes. 1(1), 1–11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/24749508.2017.1301053
[16] Katherasala, S., Bheenaveni, R.S., Thaduru, S., et al., 2025. Farmers, Chemicals and Fertility of Soil: A Quest to Sustainability. Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences. 7(3), 58–76. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30564/JEES.V7I3.8079
[17] Katherasala, S., 2024. Approaches to Sustainable Agriculture: A Retrospective Analysis for Soil Health Improvement: Sustainable Approaches for Soil Health. SAARC Journal of Agriculture. 22(2), 1–13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/SJA.V22I2.71458
[18] Akhtar, N., Ishak, M.I.S., Bhawani, S.A., et al., 2021. Various Natural and Anthropogenic Factors Responsible for Water Quality Degradation: A Review. Water. 13(19), 2660. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/W13192660
[19] Li, X., Fang, J., Shagahaleh, H., et al., 2023. Impacts of Partial Substitution of Chemical Fertilizer with Organic Fertilizer on Soil Organic Carbon Composition, Enzyme Activity, and Grain Yield in Wheat–Maize Rotation. Life. 13(9), 1929. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/LIFE13091929
[20] Rose, M.T., Cavagnaro, T.R., Scanlan, C.A., et al., 2016. Impact of Herbicides on Soil Biology and Function. Advances in Agronomy. 136, 133–220. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/BS.AGRON.2015.11.005
[21] Zolghadri, S., Rahimpour, E., Rahimpour, M.R., 2023. Short-term and long-term health problems in exposure to chemicals. In: Rahimpour, M.R., Omidvar, B., Shirazi, N.A., et al. (eds.). Crises in Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Industries: Disasters and Environmental Challenges. Elsevier: Amsterdam, Netherlands. pp. 239–253. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-95154-8.00009-8
[22] Brahma, S., Upadhyay, V., Nath, R.K., et al., 2024. Advances in Organic Farming, 1st ed. Apple Academic Press: Palm Bay, FL, USA. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003502715
[23] Wonglom, P., Ruangwong, O.U., Poncheewin, W., et al., 2024. Trichoderma-Bioenriched Vermicompost Induces Defense Response and Promotes Plant Growth in Thai Rice Variety ‘Chor Khing.' Journal of Fungi. 10(8), 582. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/JOF10080582
[24] Möller, K., 2018. Soil fertility status and nutrient input–output flows of specialised organic cropping systems: a review. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems. 112(2), 147–164. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/S10705-018-9946-2
[25] Hajam, Y.A., Kumar, R., Kumar, A., 2023. Environmental waste management strategies and vermi transformation for sustainable development. Environmental Challenges. 13, 100747. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVC.2023.100747
[26] Yahaya, S.M., Mahmub, A.A., Abdullahi, M., et al., 2023. Recent advances in the chemistry of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as fertilizers in soil: A review. Pedosphere. 33(3), 385–406. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PEDSPH.2022.07.012
[27] Pahalvi, H.N., Rafiya, L., Rashid, S., et al., 2021. Chemical Fertilizers and Their Impact on Soil Health. In: Dar, G.H., Bhat, R.A., Mehmood, M.A., et al. (eds.). Microbiota and Biofertilizers, vol. 2. Springer: Cham, Switzerland. pp. 1–20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61010-4_1
[28] Li, L., Konkel, J., Jin, V.L., et al., 2021. Conservation management improves agroecosystem function and resilience of soil nitrogen cycling in response to seasonal changes in climate. Science of The Total Environment. 779, 146457. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2021.146457
[29] Hussain, A., Elkarmout, A.F., Mansour, E.Z., et al., 2024. An Environment Friendly Practice, the Climate Smart Agriculture Crop Production and Soil Management Systems: A review. Journal of Sustainable Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. 3(3), 101–124. Available from: https://jsaes.journals.ekb.eg/article_362527.html (cited 30 April 2025).
[30] Atapattu, A.J., Ranasinghe, C.S., Nuwarapaksha, T.D., et al., 2024. Sustainable Agriculture and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In: Garwi, J., Masengu, R., Chiwaridzo, O.T. (eds.). Emerging Technologies and Marketing Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture. IGI Global: Hershey, PA, USA. pp. 1–27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-4864-2.CH001
[31] Imbiri, S., Wambrauw, L.T., ORDSABSTRACT, K.W., 2025. Farmers' Attitudes Towards Fertilizer and Pesticide Use in Enhancing Agricultural Yields. The Journal of Academic Science. 2(4), 1066–1076. DOI: https://doi.org/10.59613/96XBDP66
[32] Katherasala, S., Bheenaveni, R.S., 2024. BALANCING ACT: INSIGHTS INTO TELANGANA FARMERS' PERSPECTIVES ON INTENSIVE VS. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE. Agricultural Research Journal. 61(2), 167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5958/2395-146X.2024.00023.4
Downloads
How to Cite
Issue
Article Type
License
Copyright © 2025 Srinivas Katherasala, Ram Shepherd Bheenaveni, Parandamulu Chinthakindi, Thirupathi Deekonda, Rohini Bolledla, Satheesh Kaitha

This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.