Agriculture scientists and concerned Department officials of Jharkhand seem to have got the panacea to handle inordinate amount of acidic soil spreading all across the State. The relief has come from corporate majors, including Tata Steel that also presents an example of much needed public-private partnership packed with innovations.
Information accessed suggest that Directorate of Agriculture in association with Horticulture and Agriculture Research Programme, Plandu has entered into an agreement with Tata Steel to provide iron slag, considered as wastage in iron ore industry.
The industry uses considerable amount of dolomite which is a mix of calcium and magnesium carbonates. It gets converted into lime in the blast furnace and comes out with impurities in the form of slag. As disposal of slag is considered a headache in the industry, due to high alkalinity it can be helpful in reducing acidity in soil.
“Acidic soil is a huge problem for us and we have definite research work that underlines uses of dolomite mix slag in reducing soil acidity. It is at the exploration stage,” confirmed Director Agriculture Krishna Deo Prasad Sahu.
As per official information, out of State’s total geographical area of 79.7 lakh hectares share of cultivable land is 38 lakh hectares and net sown area is just about 18.04 lakh hectares. It is worrying to know that nearly half of the cultivable land i.e. 16 lakh hectares are acidic with pH value less than 5.5. This kind of soil is conducive for paddy but other crops, especially pulses, oil seeds and other legumes. It leaves large number of farmers are heavily dependent on seasonal rice cultivation.
The issue also came for discussion during a high-level meeting of Agriculture Department officials with a delegation of the Planning Commission visited couple of days ago. Noted scientist and member of the panel K Kasturirangan and Director General of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) S Ayappan were also part of the discussion. The ICAR has its center at Plandu and sources said that it had inked an agreement with TATA Steel to ensure supply of the slag.
Though, it is easier said than done! A senior scientist at Tata Steel confirmed about the initiative but added that the slag required considerable amount of treatment before being used. “The slag comes out in the form of ash and boulders. It cannot be used as it is and require treatment to segregate heavy metals it contains. Also it has to be brought into liquid form before being sprinkled into the fields. A mini plant for its treatment is required to be set up,” he said.
A top official of the Department added that cost-benefit angle would also to be looked into besides ensuring its sufficient availability before going ahead. Jharkhand Government eyes to treat 10 lakh hectares of acidic land by 2020 using various means.
Possibility of converting the project into a viable option is high also because the largest steel maker of the country in private sector would be taking it under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity.