Global Review Highlights Urgent Need to Protect Black Soils for Sustainable Development

Introduction

Black soils, characterized by their rich, dark, and highly productive nature, occupy a small fraction of the world’s land but contribute disproportionately to global grain production. These soils are found in critical agricultural regions including Northeast China, the Ukrainian plains, and the Pampas of South America, supporting essential crops such as maize, wheat, and soybeans. However, decades of intensive monoculture, excessive chemical use, and climate variability have severely degraded these soils, threatening their resilience and the ecosystem services they provide.

Scope and Methodology of the Study

A comprehensive global synthesis of black soil degradation was published on January 31, 2025, in the journal Pedosphere. The study, conducted by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and international collaborators, analyzed 1,290 scientific articles to assess the extent, drivers, and impacts of degradation across the four main black soil regions worldwide.

Key Findings on Black Soil Degradation

1. Prevalence of Soil Erosion and Fertility Loss
   • Soil erosion and nutrient depletion are the most widespread threats across all regions.
   • In China’s Northeast Plain, over 218,000 km² of black soils suffer from erosion, primarily due to slope farming and excessive tillage.
   • North America continues to experience effects reminiscent of the historic Dust Bowl.
   • Ukraine has lost more than 80,000 km² of fertile land due to erosion and organic carbon decline.
2. Impact of Harmful Agricultural Practices
   • Deep tillage, overuse of fertilizers and pesticides, and simplified cropping systems accelerate degradation.
   • Soil acidification and salinization are increasing, especially in China and Eastern Europe.
   • Herbicide contamination, notably glyphosate, is widespread in the Pampas region.
3. Biodiversity Decline
   • Losses in microbial and fungal biodiversity are undermining soil functionality and ecosystem health.

Promising Management and Restoration Approaches

• Conservation tillage and crop rotation to reduce erosion and improve soil fertility.
• Application of organic amendments to restore soil organic matter.
• Integrated strategies such as China’s “Lishu model,” combining no-tillage, stubble cover, and precision agriculture.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The findings and recommendations of this study directly support several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – Protecting black soils ensures sustained agricultural productivity and global food security.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Promoting sustainable farming practices reduces chemical overuse and soil degradation.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – Healthy soils contribute to carbon sequestration and resilience against climate variability.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – Conserving soil biodiversity and preventing land degradation supports terrestrial ecosystems.

Call to Action and Policy Recommendations

1. Implement Data-Driven Monitoring
   • Utilize AI and remote sensing technologies for real-time soil health assessment.
   • Establish harmonized standards for degradation evaluation across regions.
2. Adopt Region-Specific Conservation Practices
   • Tailor interventions to local environmental and socio-economic conditions.
   • Promote sustainable land management techniques to restore soil productivity.
3. Enhance International Collaboration
   • Strengthen platforms such as the FAO’s Black Soil Network for knowledge exchange and capacity building.
   • Coordinate policy frameworks to address global soil degradation challenges collectively.

Conclusion

Dr. Wenyou Hu, lead author of the study, emphasized that black soils are fundamental to global food systems but are currently facing a silent collapse. The review consolidates decades of research to highlight that while degradation is accelerating, it remains reversible through targeted policies and science-based interventions. Protecting and restoring black soils is critical to achieving sustainable agriculture and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring food security and environmental health for future generations.

References and Funding

• DOI: 10.1016/j.pedsph.2024.06.011
• Funding Sources:
  • Science and Technology Plan for the Belt and Road Innovation Cooperation Project of Jiangsu Province, China (No. BZ2023003)
  • National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2021YFD1500202)
  • Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. XDA28010100)
  • “14th Five-Year Plan” Self-Deployment Project of the Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. ISSAS2418)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 42107334)

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article discusses the importance of black soils in supporting vital crops such as maize, wheat, and soybeans, which are essential for global food production and food security.
2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Issues related to chemical overapplication (fertilizers and pesticides) and harmful farming practices highlight the need for sustainable agricultural production.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Climate volatility is mentioned as a factor accelerating soil degradation, linking the article to climate resilience and adaptation efforts.
4. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The degradation of soils, loss of biodiversity (microbial and fungal), erosion, and contamination directly relate to the sustainable management of terrestrial ecosystems.
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article calls for international collaboration through platforms like the FAO’s Black Soil Network to share knowledge and coordinate policy.

2. Specific Targets Under the Identified SDGs

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production.
2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.4: Achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle to minimize adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
   • Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
4. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Target 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article to Measure Progress

1. Extent of Soil Degradation
   • Area of black soils affected by erosion and fertility loss (e.g., 218,000 km² in China’s Northeast Plain, 80,000 km² in Ukraine).
2. Soil Quality Indicators
   • Soil erosion rates.
   • Loss of organic carbon in soils.
   • Soil acidification and salinization levels.
   • Levels of chemical contamination such as herbicide (glyphosate) residues.
3. Biodiversity Indicators
   • Decline in microbial and fungal biodiversity in soils.
4. Adoption of Sustainable Practices
   • Implementation rates of conservation tillage, crop rotation, organic amendments, and integrated management models (e.g., China’s “Lishu model”).
5. Monitoring and Data Collection
   • Use of real-time monitoring technologies such as AI and remote sensing for soil health assessment.
   • Harmonized assessment standards for soil degradation.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: newswise.com