Sustainable nutrient management balancing soil health and food security for future generations

Modern agriculture heavily relies on chemical-based fertilizers. The excessive use and Modern agriculture heavily rely on chemical-based fertilizers. The excessive use and inefficient distribution of crop fertilizer nutrients lead to significant changes in soil properties. Long-term fertility experiments give the ideal platform for understanding the alterations in soil properties, productivity, nutrient imbalances, deficiencies, and overall impact on soil health and quality. Long-term fertilizer experiments (LTFE) were carried out after the Green Revolution to track these modifications in soil and crop productivity brought about by the ongoing application of plant nutrient inputs from fertilizers and organic sources. These studies were conducted at particular locations within India's agroecological zones (AEZ) on important cropping systems and dominant soil types. The results of these LTFE showed a yield trend and changes in soil properties and fertility in the following order: NPK + FYM >150% NPK >100% NPK > 100% NP > 100% N > control at most study sites, serving as a benchmark for monitoring changes. The long-term misuse and imbalance of fertilizers harm the soil environment and lead to unsustainable agricultural development. Recent studies have suggested the application of integrated nutrients alongside improved practices as the best alternative for a sustainable and cost-effective system. This review objective is to explain the positive effects of various sources of nutrients along with improved practices on soil health along food security for present and future generations, as opposed to studies that focus solely on intensive and imbalanced chemical fertilizers.