Promoting Urban Sustainability: UHF Nauni Champions Soil Health on World Soil Day

December 5, २०२५

To raise awareness about the crucial role that healthy soils play in sustaining ecosystems, the Department of Soil Science and Water Management at Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, celebrated World Soil Day at the university campus. This year’s theme for World Soil Day was ‘Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities’. On this occasion, the department organised activities to enhance understanding among students about the importance of soil health and its contribution to maintaining a balanced ecosystem.

Explaining the theme, Dr. Uday Sharma, Head of the Department of Soil Science, highlighted that this year’s theme underscores the significance of soil in urban landscapes—not just in farms or rural areas. He informed that healthy urban soils play a vital role in helping cities absorb rainwater, manage flooding, store carbon, regulate temperature, filter water, improve air quality, and support green spaces and biodiversity. He added that the theme calls upon urban planners, policymakers, communities and citizens to rethink city design so that soil health and sustainable land use become central to planning.

In the forenoon, the department organised a visit for undergraduate students to the university’s NABL-accredited Advanced Soil and Leaf Analysis Laboratory. The visit aimed to acquaint students with various soil parameters and the instruments used for soil analysis. Department scientists Dr. Uday Sharma, Dr. Rajesh Kaushal, Dr. Sudhir Verma and Dr. Upender Sharma explained the importance of urban forestry and horticulture in maintaining healthy soils. They also highlighted the importance of converting kitchen waste into useful compost for plants and soil improvement.

In the afternoon, Dr Pradeep Kumar coordinated a session for the postgraduate students. The session involved an extempore activity for the students in which topics such as responsible composting, urban water harvesting, and natural farming on terrace gardens were given to the participants to encourage critical thinking and awareness about sustainable urban practices.