The country wide application of soil health card has led to a decline in the use of chemical fertilizer by 10%. A study conducted by the National Productivity Council (NPC) says the application of Soil Health Card recommendations has led to a decline of 8-10% in use of chemical fertilizers.
Objectives of Soil Health Card Scheme:
- To issue soil health card to all the farmers of the country every 3 years, So as to provide all the information regarding nutrient deficiencies in fertilization practices
- To strengthen the functioning of Soil Testing Laboratories (STLs) through capacity building, involvement of agriculture students and effective linkage with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)/State Agricultural Universities (SAUs)
- To diagnose constraints related to soil fertility with standardized sampling procedures uniformly across the states. Analyzing and designing block level fertilizer recommendations in targeted districts
- To develop and encourage soil test based nutrient management in the area for enhancing nutrient use efficiency
- To build capacities of area level staff and of progressive farmers for promotion of nutrient management practices
Ministry of Agriculture of India is currently implementing an $86 million Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme to provide nutrient recommendations to farmers based on local soil health tests, with the expectation that it will promote balanced nutrient management practices. Launched in 19, February, 2015, the program provides SHCs to every farmer at three-year intervals. The cards contain soil test results and crop-wise recommendations of nutrients and fertilizers to help improve productivity through judicious use of inputs. For getting this information all soil samples are to be tested in various soil testing labs across the country. Thereafter the experts will analyze the strength and weaknesses (micronutrients deficiency) of the soil and suggest measures to deal with it. The result and suggestion will be displayed in the cards.
About 100 million cards have been distributed to farmers across the country, and that number continues to rise. But many farmers say the cards would be much more effective if better designed and composed. The government plans to issue the cards to 14 crore farmers. Soil Health Card contains the status of soils with respect to 12 parameters, namely-N, P, K (Macronutrients), S (Secondary-nutrients), Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, B (Micro-nutrients) and pH, Electrical Conductivity, Organic Carbon (Physical Parameters). It not only provides the status but also provides crop wise fertilizer recommendations. Soil Health Card helps farmers to improve productivity by maintaining soil health. SHC also promotes the judicious use of the fertilizers thus reducing the cost of cultivation.
Current Scenario
Under the Central Government’s Soil Health Card Scheme Phase-I (Years 2015 to 2017) 10.74 crore cards were distributed, while under the Phase-II 11.69 crore cards have been give away during the period 2017-19. In the current financial year, a pilot project “Development of Model Villages” is being implemented under which the sampling and testing of cultivable soil is being encouraged in partnership with the farmers. Under the project a Model Village has been selected for aggregation of soil samples and analysis of each agricultural holding. As part of the scheme 13.53 lakh Soil Health Cards have been distributed during the year 2019-20.
For setting up of soil health laboratories under the scheme, the states have been sanctioned 429 static labs, 102 new mobile labs, 8,752 mini labs, 1,562 village-level laboratories and strengthening of 800 existing labs.
Norms of sampling?
Soil samples will be drawn in a grid of 2.5 ha in irrigated area and 10 ha in rain- fed area with the help of GPS tools and revenue maps.
Ideal time for soil sampling
Soil Samples are taken generally two times in a year, after harvesting of Rabi and Kharif Crop respectively or when there is no standing crop in the field.
How will soil samples be collected from a farmer’s field?
Soil Samples will be collected by a trained person from a depth of 15-20 cm by cutting the soil in a “V” shape. It will be collected from four corners and the centre of the field and mixed thoroughly and a part of this picked up as a sample. Areas with shade will be avoided. The sample chosen will be bagged and coded. It will then be transferred to soil test laboratory for analysis.
Who and Where will the soil sample be tested?
The soil sample will be tested as per the approved standards for all the agreed 12 parameters in the following way: At the Soil Testing Laboratory owned by the Department of Agriculture and by their owned staff / Department of Agriculture but by the staff of the outsourced agency / at ICAR Institutions including KVKs and SAUs / At the laboratories of the Science Colleges/Universities by the students under supervision of a Professor/ Scientist.
Soil testing is a great tool to assess soil fertility and nutrient supplying capacity. The most crucial step in the whole programme is timely reporting of soil test results to farmers. Speed and reliability of operation is also most important. Appropriate systems and processes should be in place for effective implement of the scheme and to get desired results.Instead of planning the training for soil samplers/collectors soil and water testing. Lab analysis and soil and water testing lab assistants, the training should be given to diploma holders, in Agriculture as they already have a preliminary idea about the subject, its importance and during the slack season their services could be utilized for other agricultural related activities. Thus, it can be said that our ‘New India’ is inching closer to the dream of ‘Doubling the Farmer’s Income’. Soil Health Cards are ushering in the new era of healthy soil management in the country, especially ending the menace of over use of urea or nitrogenous fertilizers.
Hanuman Prasad Pandey
Research Scholar
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry
C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, U.P. 208002, India