The scheme ‘Soil Health Card’ has been approved by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and for implementation during the remaining period of 12th Plan with an outlay of Rs. 568.54 crore. Under the Scheme, Soil Health Card will be provided to all the farmers in the country at an interval of 3 years so as to enable the farmers to apply appropriate recommended dosages of nutrients to realize improved and sustainable soil health and fertility status and also to ensure higher per unit yields.
The year 2015 has been declared by the United Nations as the ‘International Year of the Soils’. In alignment with this, it has been thought appropriate to issue soil health cards to as many farmers as possible during this year.
As per directives ICAR-DFR, Pune also prepared the soil health cards. Collection of soil samples was done as per the institute mandate and analysis of collected samples was done. The Soil Health Cards were distributed to farmers by Shri. Mohan Y. Kundaria Ji, Honorable, Minister of State, Agriculture on 5th December 2015 at KVK Narayangaon Maharashtra.
As FAO has declared 2015 as the International Year of Soils, it has been decided by Government of India that soil health cards should be issued to farmers on the occasion of World Soil Day on 5th December. The soil health card contained information on macro as well as micro nutrients. In this context Directorate had collected 50 soil samples and 50 Soil Health Cards were distributed to farmers from Shindawane, Waghapur, Sortapwadi, Talegaon, Pande, Sasurve and Chiroli villages.
Soil analysis data indicated that pH of soil samples ranged from acidic (5.1) to highly alkaline (8.7), electrical conductivity ranged from normal (0.105 dS m-1) to harmful (6.19 dS m-1) for plant growth and soil organic carbon status was observed to be in the range of low (0.05 %) to high (1.31 %). About 12 %, 2% and 16 % of the total soil samples analyzed were low, 82 %, 16 % and 22 % were medium and 6%, 82 % and 62 % of the total soil samples analyzed were high in nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium status respectively. Nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium contents of soils ranged from 156.8 to 564.48 kg ha-1, 13.41 to 802.96 kg ha-1and 41.44 to 459.56 kg ha-1 respectively. It was also observed that all the soil samples analyzed contained excess quantities of sulphur. Among micronutrients, iron deficiency was prominent in the analyzed soil samples (56 %) followed by manganese (54%), copper (42%), zinc (12 %) and boron (2%). In addition to soil nutrient status, quantities of micronutrients to be applied in case of deficiency and quantity of gypsum to be applied to correct the soil reaction was also suggested in each soil health card.
According to the nutrient status of each soil sample, fertilizer recommendations in terms of quantities of urea, SSP and MOP to be applied to obtain reference yield of crops like tuberose, marigold, chrysanthemum and gladiolus was also suggested in each soil health card.
The event was organized in association with the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Narayangaon, Maharashtra. The soil health cards were distributed by Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Agriculture Shri. Mohan Bhai Khundariya.
In 2015, the World Soil Day was celebrated on 5th December,2015 at KVK, Narayangaon
In 2016, the World Soil Day was celebrated on 5th December,2016 at KVK, Narayangaon, Maharashtra.
ICAR-Directorate of Floricultural Research,
Zed Corner, Mundhwa Manjri Road, Mundhwa,
Pune 411036,
Maharashtra,
India.
Phone: (020)29997185
Email: ao.dfr@icar.gov.in