Soil Management in Bangladesh: From Erosion to Fertility
Introduction
Soil is one of the most vital natural resources for Bangladesh as it supports agriculture,
forestry, and biodiversity. Agriculture is still the backbone of Bangladesh’s economy, with
millions of people depending on it for livelihood and food security (BBS, 2023). Healthy soil
is the foundation for crop production, ecosystem services, and sustainable development.
However, soil degradation and erosion have become severe challenges due to overuse of
land, deforestation, excessive fertilizer use, and climate-induced stresses such as floods,
droughts, and salinity. This report explores the current condition of soils in Bangladesh,
identifies key challenges, highlights national and local management approaches, and
provides recommendations for future sustainability.
Current Condition of Soil in Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s soils are diverse and include floodplain soils, hilly soils, coastal saline soils,
and terrace soils (SRDI, 2022). Despite this diversity, many regions face declining fertility
and structural damage.
Overuse of Farmland: Intensive cultivation is widespread. Farmers often use the
same plot multiple times a year without sufficient rest, which exhausts nutrients
and weakens soil fertility (FAO, 2021).
Excessive Chemical Fertilizer Use: To maximize yield, farmers rely heavily on
synthetic fertilizers such as urea, TSP, and DAP. While these boost short-term
production, they degrade soil structure, reduce organic matter, and affect soil
biodiversity over the long term (Hossain, Rahman, & Islam, 2020).
Deforestation and Overgrazing: Large-scale deforestation reduces the ability of soil
to bind together, increasing erosion in hilly areas. Similarly, unrestricted cattle
grazing leaves the land dry and barren (Rahman & Kabir, 2019).
Climate Impacts: Floods, cyclones, and salinity intrusion increasingly damage
coastal soils, while erosion continues to threaten riverbank and hill regions.
Soil Degradation and Erosion Challenges
Soil degradation in Bangladesh refers to the decline in soil quality, nutrients, and structure,
making farming less productive and more vulnerable to climate pressures.
Hilly Areas: Heavy rainfall and flash floods wash away topsoil, causing severe
erosion.
Coastal Areas: Salinity intrusion from rising sea levels makes land unsuitable for
traditional farming (Islam et al., 2021).
Riverbanks: Major rivers like the Jamuna and Padma erode fertile farmland every
year, displacing thousands of families (SRDI, 2022).
According to the Soil Resource Development Institute, about half of Bangladesh’s
agricultural land faces some degree of soil degradation, with salinity affecting
around 1.2 million hectares in coastal regions (SRDI, 2022).
Management Approaches
National-Level Approaches
National Land Use Policy (2012 revision) emphasizes planned land use to prevent
overexploitation.
Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) provides soil testing services and
guidance on fertilizer use.
Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP, 2009) outlines
adaptation measures for soil salinity, drought, and erosion.
Afforestation Projects by the Forest Department aim to stabilize soil and reduce
erosion.
Local-Level Approaches
Agroforestry: Planting trees alongside crops helps reduce erosion and improves
fertility.
Terracing in Hills: Farmers in hilly regions build steps to slow erosion and water
runoff.
Organic Farming & Composting: Communities are adopting organic practices to
restore soil health.
Crop Rotation: Farmers rotate crops such as rice and legumes to maintain nutrients.
Mangrove Plantations in Coastal Areas: Community-driven mangrove afforestation
projects reduce saline water intrusion and stabilize soils (Rahman & Kabir, 2019).
Gaps in Current Strategies
Despite existing policies and practices, significant gaps remain:
Weak Policy Implementation: National policies exist but lack strict enforcement and
monitoring.
Farmer Awareness: Many farmers are unaware of sustainable practices such as
mulching and green manure.
Overdependence on Chemicals: Subsidized fertilizers encourage continued reliance
instead of organic alternatives.
Resource Constraints: Small-scale farmers lack access to financial and technical
support.
Climate Change Pressures: Current strategies do not fully address increasing flood
risks, cyclones, and salinity.
Recommendations
To promote sustainable soil management in Bangladesh, the following steps are
recommended:
1. Promote Sustainable Farming Practices
Encourage the use of bio-fertilizers, composting, and organic farming.
Provide subsidies for eco-friendly alternatives instead of chemical fertilizers.
2. Strengthen Agroforestry and Afforestation
Expand tree planting projects in hilly and coastal areas.
Increase mangrove restoration efforts for coastal protection.
3. Introduce Advanced Soil Management Techniques
o Train farmers in contour plowing, cover cropping, and strip cropping.
o Promote salt-tolerant crop varieties in saline-prone regions.
4. Improve Policy Implementation
o Enhance SRDI’s monitoring capacity.
o Ensure local government units enforce sustainable land-use policies.
5. Adopt Climate-Resilient Measures
o Build embankments and flood-control structures on erosion-prone
riverbanks.
o Invest in research on climate-resilient soils and crops.
6. Farmer Education and Awareness
o Organize workshops, training programs, and demonstration plots.
o Use digital tools and social media to share knowledge at the grassroots level.
Conclusion
Soil degradation and erosion pose serious threats to Bangladesh’s agriculture, ecosystems,
and livelihoods. Overuse of land, chemical dependency, deforestation, and climate change
pressures are eroding the foundation of food security. Although the government and local
communities have taken steps, enforcement gaps, weak awareness, and lack of resources
hinder progress. A stronger focus on sustainable farming, climate adaptation, and
community-based soil management is essential for the country’s long-term prosperity.
Protecting soil today is protecting the future of Bangladesh.
References
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). (2023). Statistical Yearbook of Bangladesh
2023. Dhaka: BBS.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). (2021). Soil degradation in South Asia.
Rome: FAO.
Hossain, M., Rahman, M., & Islam, S. (2020). Chemical fertilizer use and soil health in
Bangladesh. Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 12(3), 45–58.
Islam, S., Hasan, M., & Sarker, M. (2021). Coastal soil salinity and climate resilience
in Bangladesh. Asian Journal of Environmental Science, 15(2), 67–80.
Rahman, A., & Kabir, H. (2019). Deforestation and soil erosion in Bangladesh: A
review. Bangladesh Journal of Environmental Research, 21(1), 23–34.
Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI). (2022). Soil fertility status in
Bangladesh. Dhaka: SRDI.
Government of Bangladesh. (2009). Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action
Plan. Dhaka: Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Government of Bangladesh. (2012). National Land Use Policy. Dhaka: Ministry of
Land.
