Last Updated:November 05, 2025, 12:42 IST Across 24 states and union territories, at least half of the farmland now shows low organic carbon. In 27 states, more than 90 percent of samples were deficient in nitrogen. Across 24 states and union territories, at least half of the farmland now shows low organic carbon. In 27 states, more than 90 percent of samples were deficient in nitrogen (Image: Canva) India’s soil, once the quiet engine of its agricultural success, is showing unmistakable signs of strain. A new assessment by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), based on over 1.3 crore soil samples collected between 2023 and 2025 under the Soil Health Card programme, has found widespread depletion of key nutrients across the country. Nearly two-thirds of the samples tested low in nitrogen, and almost half lacked sufficient organic carbon – both essential for healthy crop growth. The findings point to a pattern of long-term soil fatigue, raising concerns about productivity, sustainability, and the future of food security in India. The results read like a diagnosis …