Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) Vice-Chancellor Dr Nitin Madan Kulkarni said that 80 per cent of the State farmers would be provided soil health cards (SHCs) by the end of current fiscal which would contain current availability status of nutrients in their soil and recommendations for fertilizer use. Campaign of soil sampling on grid basis is progressing in full swing.
He said the government is also planning to set up soil testing facilities in all the rural high schools. Development of App is also underway by which farmers will get information about the deficiencies and requirements of their soil on their mobile phone. He was addressing the World Soil Day celebration organized jointly by the Ranchi Chapter of Indian Society of Soil Science (ISSS) and Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry of BAU at Ranchi Agricultural College Auditorium on Monday (December 5).
Dr Kulkarni said indiscriminate use of fertilizers affects the soil in similar fashion as over dose of food supplements to human body. Excess of anything has its adverse side effects. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is telling upon soil and water quality in major parts of the agriculturally advanced states like Punjab and Haryana, he added. Crops grown on industrial waste water contain heavy metals like lead and mercury, injurious to health. Scientists should work on fertilizer technique to increase availability of zinc and boron in crops.Dr RP Singh ‘Ratan’, Director Extension Education said keeping the soil healthy was essential not only for human health but for animal and environment health also. More attention was required on the biological aspects of soil than its physical and chemical properties, he added.
Dr Raghav Thakur, Dean, faculty of Agriculture said soil health card was like a pathological report of human beings and its recommendations should be properly followed.Dr DK Shahi, President, ISSS, Ranchi Chapter said soil is an essential resource and a vital part of the natural environment from which most of the global food is produced and the World Soil day aims to connect people with soils and raise awareness on their critical importance in our lives.
Dr Arvind Kumar said application of one kg fertilizer in 1960 resulted in crop production increase of about 12 kg but now the similar dose of fertilizer increases yield 1.5-2 kg only. He stressed that pulse crop must be included in the crop rotation because it uses atmospheric nitrogen and checks run off water and soil erosion. Dr BK Agrawal, Secretary of ISSS welcomed the guests.