Soil Disease Handbook

18/08/2025

This article provides an overview and in-depth knowledge of soil “diseases” – from nutritional imbalance, chemical pollution, to biological degradation – along with how to recognize them and appropriate restoration measures. This is part of FHFVN’s efforts to enhance community capacity in environmentally friendly farming, protecting soil health – a vital factor for food security and long-term livelihoods.

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Disease group	Soil disease	Diagnosis (direct observation)	Reason	Consequence	How to handle	Processing Time & Recheck	Equipment/Tools needed
Chemistry	Acid soil	pH < 5.5; gray-yellow soil; tar weed growth	Lots of rain, lots of chemical fertilizers	Weak roots, yellow leaves	Apply lime CaCO₃/CaO, add organic fertilizer	4 – 6 weeks; re-measure pH after 1 month	Soil pH meter
Chemistry	Alkalization	pH > 8; white moldy soil; yellow leaves with green veins	Salt-contaminated irrigation water, high ash/lime fertilization	Reduced absorption of trace elements	Organic supplements, gypsum, sulfur	6 – 8 weeks; re-measure pH after 1.5 months	Soil pH meter
Chemistry	Salinization	The ground is white with salt when dry; plants wither even when the soil is wet.	Salt water, lots of potassium chloride	Wither and die quickly	Salt washing, temporary planting of salt-tolerant plants	3 – 4 weeks; check EC after 3 weeks	EC (salinity) meter
Chemistry	Alum poisoning (Al, Fe)	Reddish yellow/rusty brown soil; yellowish acidic water; rotten roots	Acid sulfate soil, waterlogged	Yellow leaves, rotten roots	Raised beds, lime, and alum washing	6 – 8 weeks; measure pH after 1.5 months	Soil pH meter
Physics	Compacted soil	The soil is lumpy and hard to till; water remains on the surface.	Little plowing, heavy machine	Roots have difficulty developing	Organic fertilizer, deep plowing, planting trees to improve	8 – 12 weeks; check for looseness every month	Soil probe, shovel
Physics	Dry land	Cracked soil, fine dust; irrigation water seeps quickly	No humus, no cover	Does not retain water	Mulching, organic fertilizer, cover crops	6–10 weeks; check moisture levels weekly.	Soil moisture meter
Physics	Erosion	Loss of topsoil, exposing rocks and stones.	Steep terrain and heavy rainfall.	Nutrient-poor	Build terraces, plant windbreaks, and cover the soil.	1 crop; check after every heavy rain	Slope meter, GPS
Biological	Microbially “dead” soil	No earthworms or ants observed; soil lacks the “forest soil” smell.	Overuse of chemicals	Plants with poor resistance	Supplement with organic fertilizer and microbial products.	4 – 6 weeks; check soil organisms monthly	Worm collection tray and magnifying glass
Biological	Outbreak of harmful microorganisms	Presence of white or black mold with a foul odor; scattered plant death.	Prolonged wet soil with abundant diseased residues.	Root rot and plant death.	Crop rotation, Trichoderma, lime	3–4 weeks; observe after 2 weeks.	Magnifying glass and notebook
Biological	Nematode pests	Swollen, cracked roots and yellowing leaves.	Growing a single crop for many years	Weak roots and stunted plant growth.	Crop rotation, planting marigolds	1 crop; check roots after harvest	Small knife and magnifying glass
Pollution	Heavy metals	Soil near industrial areas; stunted plants; analysis shows presence of Pb, Cd, and Hg.	CN polluted water/soil	Poisoning when eaten	Plant toxic trees and change the soil layer.	6 – 12 months; retest	Heavy metal testing kit
Pollution	Pesticide residues	Persistent chemical odor; stunted plant growth.	Overuse of pesticides	Reduce microorganisms and toxins	Apply organic fertilizer and pesticide-degrading products.	3 – 6 months; microbiological test	Pesticide testing kit
Pollution	Inorganic waste	Soil mixed with nylon and plastic.	Improper disposal of waste	Reduced soil porosity	Collect and sieve the soil	Immediately; check periodically	Hand sieve and gloves

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Soil Disease Handbook