IMPORTANCE OF SOIL HEALTH EMPHASISED AT ILS COIMBATORE

The Institute of Liberal Studies, Coimbatore conducted its Session 58 Proceedings 13 from 04.00 PM to 06.00 PM at Thulasi Pharmacy, RS Puram on Sunday, 05 July 2026. Mr.J.Muruganathan, Executive Committee Member of Institute Liberal Studies welcomed the gathering and chaired the Minute a Member programme where each of the 16 members shared their wisdom in a minute. The minute a member programme saw poignant lecturettes related to diverse topics like cricket dismissals. Bharathiyar poems, AI in traffic violations, rise of epidemics, libraries for kids in USA, etc. Following the Minute a Member Programme and a tea break, Dr.A.Bharani, Professor and Head, Department of Environmental Sciences delivered a lecture titled "Roots of Change - Soil Health for a Sustainable World"

Dr.A.Bharani began her lecture by highlighting industrial pollution issues in Tiruppur, Erode, Vellore etc. She shared her immense wisdom in a very lucid manner. She began with a simple explanation of the pollution and layered it with basic scientific principles and topped it with her practical research knowledge. She impressed upon the fact that while water pollution and air pollution are visible and can be felt, the same cannot be said about soil pollution. She stressed the importance of soil health and elucidated that soil health is the capacity of the soil to function. She highlighted the function of soil as it sustains plant and animal productivity, regulates water flow, and filters pollutants. She explained in layman terms about importance of macro nutrients, micro nutrients and microorganisms in soil health. She also outlined how soil health is affected and how it can be restored over a period time. After simplifying the theoretical knowledge, Dr Bharani brought in her wealth of experience. She shared some interesting nuggets of information from her extensive research experience and demonstrated the huge gap between theory and practice. She gave a clear picture of the fading soil health with data and case studies. She finally concluded how individuals, societies and governments need to function together to ensure that our soil health is well monitored and restored to its best ability. The audience found the lecture very interesting which was indicative in a barrage of questions that followed. Dr.Bharani patiently took all the questions and clarified the doubts of the members. 

Dr.B.Jayaraman, Past Chairperson, Institute of Liberal Studies presented a memento to Dr Bharani and proposed the Vote of Thanks. The meeting was attended by members of Institute of Liberal Studies and Rotaract Club of Coimbatore Cosmos.