Healthy and sustainable soil is crucial for Qatar. Here's why
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Every year on December 5, World Soil Day raises awareness about the importance of healthy soils and the need to manage them sustainably. Countries and international organizations take the opportunity to highlight the pivotal role soil plays in food security, sustainable development, and environmental preservation, and amplify calls to introduce measures to protect and improve quality across the planet. These include Qatar which faces complex environmental challenges that require special consideration.

The theme for World Soil Day 2024 - “Soil Stewardship: Measurement, Monitoring and Management” - reflects the need for accurate data on soil properties to understand how they degrade or improve. Effective soil management depends on reliable information to make informed decisions about sustainable agriculture and natural resource protection. The challenges in arid regions, such as Qatar, further complicate this issue. Soils in this region are subject to multiple pressures including, but not limited to, salinity, water scarcity, and high temperatures, which are threats to the sustainability of plant resources and food security, to name but a few.

Opportunities nevertheless exist that might enable Qatar to improve soil quality and sustain the current rate of agricultural expansion. For example, recent studies focus on the use of salt-tolerant plants that are adapted to and capable of stabilizing saline soil environments. These plants are an effective solution to Qatar's saline soil challenges, reducing coastal erosion and improving soil fertility in dry areas. In addition to halophytes, fungi play a pivotal role in improving soil fertility by decomposing organic matter. Recent studies have confirmed that fungi help recycle nutrients in poor desert soils. The microorganisms break down organic matter into nutrients that can be used by plants. Through this role, fungi improve the soil's ability to retain nutrients and increase its overall fertility.

On this occasion, we can say that Qatar has a strong strategic environmental vision that is a model for natural resource management and conservation. Despite the major environmental challenges facing the region, the country has shown exceptional commitment in adopting innovative and sustainable solutions aimed at balancing economic development and environmental protection. Thanks to its continuous investments in technology and research, Qatar has been able to find effective solutions to optimize soil and water management. One of the most notable achievements is the exploitation and application of modern irrigation techniques that help conserve water and minimize the impact of salinization on soil, enhancing agricultural production under harsh desert conditions. Qatar also pays great attention to developing strategies to reduce industrial pollution, through the use of environmental remediation techniques to minimize the effects of industrial activities on soil and water.

Moreover, Qatar's efforts in reclaiming saline soils using halophytes and innovative agricultural practices contribute significantly to the sustainability of land in its desert environment. Focusing on the sustainability of agriculture and achieving food self-sufficiency is not just a goal, it is part of Qatar's future vision. Qatar's concern for the environment and development of soil and water management policies also reflects its leading regional and global role in environmental innovation, and makes it a model for how to face the challenges of natural resources in light of global climate change.

Qatar's Soil Challenges: Salinity and Water Shortages

Agriculture in Qatar nevertheless continues to face significant environmental challenges, most notably soil salinity resulting from the use of saline groundwater, which negatively affects fertility and its ability to support traditional agricultural crops. To overcome these challenges, modern irrigation techniques, such as drip irrigation, are an effective solution. Drip irrigation distributes water precisely, minimizing the impact of salinity on the soil and reducing water wastage, which is critical in Qatar where fresh water is scarce.

In addition to drip irrigation, there are other techniques suitable for Qatar's environment, including Center Pivot Irrigation. This system is used to cover large agricultural areas where the irrigation system moves circularly around a central point, ensuring an even distribution of water. The system is fully automatic, reducing the need for labor and increasing water efficiency. Sprinkler irrigation is also suitable for high altitude and sandy areas, where water drops falling on the ground reduces the drift of and stabilizes sand grains. This technique distributes water through sprinklers in the form of a spray, which helps reduce the effect of soil salinity. This system is suitable for medium and large areas. 

It is clear that one of the most important modern systems that can be applied in Qatari soils is Subsurface Drip Irrigation. Studied in the doctoral thesis of Dr. Masoud Jarallah Al-Marri, this system is considered one of the latest irrigation technologies where pipes are installed below the soil surface reducing water evaporation and limiting the growth of weeds.

The Role of Technology in Soil Management

World Soil Day highlights the growing interest in the use of modern technologies such as remote sensing and artificial intelligence to analyze and classify soil properties. These tools provide accurate information about the condition of the soil, such as the degree of salinity, electrical response, and organic matter. This supports making informed decisions on land management and contributes to enhancing soil productivity in a sustainable manner.

For example, remote sensing can be used to identify areas with nutrient deficiencies or salt accumulation allowing authorities and environmental protection organizations to focus on these areas and apply effective solutions to address them. AI can also be used to analyze soil data and optimize irrigation and fertilizer strategies to suit local environmental conditions.

In conclusion, World Soil Day is an opportunity to highlight the importance of soil in Qatar and the world, especially in light of increasing environmental challenges. Soil is the foundation of human life, providing food, water storage, and environmental sustainability. Managing it sustainably requires adopting technical and environmental solutions that can improve its fertility and minimize its degradation. In light of the challenges facing Qatar's soils, these strategies are necessary to ensure the sustainability of agriculture and environmental protection in the future.

Mohamed Hassouna is a Horticulturalist Specialist at the Qur'anic Botanical Garden.

This piece has been submitted by HBKU’s Communications Directorate on behalf of its author. The thoughts and views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect an official University stance.