SOIL RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND ENVIRONMENT SAVING SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: AN ANALYSIS WITH REFERENCE TO THE HILLY TRIBAL ECOSYSTEM

R. SASMITHA¹, R. ARUNACHALAM²*
¹Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, India
²Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, India
* Corresponding Author : dr.arunachalamramanathan@yahoo.com

Received : 02-04-2019     Accepted : 12-04-2019     Published : 15-04-2019
Volume : 11     Issue : 7       Pages : 8236 - 8238
Int J Agr Sci 11.7 (2019):8236-8238

Keywords : Awareness, Perception, Soil Fertility, Sustainable Soil Management Practices, Tribal Ecosystem
Academic Editor : Dr Renju Krishna V, Sangita Warade
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Author thankful to Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

Among the natural resources, soil is a finite, non-elastic and non-renewable asset. Soil degradation is a major threat worldwide. Hence, the present study was taken up to document the soil related issues and also to study the awareness and perception level of the respondents on the probable causes for each issues. The Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu was selected for this study considering the highest proportion of tribal population in the district. Ex-post facto research design was used. The study was conducted in all the blocks of The Nilgiri district with a total sample of 214 respondents who were selected by employing proportionate random sampling method. Data were collected by using structured and standardized interview schedule. Percentage analysis was done to get meaningful interpretation of the results. The results shared visible level of gap in the awareness and perception level of the respondents on the documented environmental issues. There existed wide variations in the degree of acceptance of the sustainable soil management practices by the respondents. Appropriate educational strategies to be framed to bridge the above gap.

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