The 5th of December is celebrated as World Soil Day. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, World Soil Day 2022 and its campaign “Soils: Where Food Begins” aims to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being by addressing the growing challenges in soil management, increasing awareness of soil health, and encouraging societies to improve soil health. Declining soil fertility, increasing nutrient imbalance, and deteriorating soil health are some serious challenges to be taken head on for sustaining higher yields.
To emphasise the importance of soil management, the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin D Roosevelt, said back in 1937, “The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.”
Maintaining soil health and fertility should be top priority in terms of research and policy. The soil health card scheme of Government of India is a significant development in this direction. Under this scheme the necessary know-how and training on soil sample collection is imparted by the Department of Agriculture/ Horticulture, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, the divisions in state agriculture universities and other institutions under ICAR. The facility of soil testing has been made available in every nook and corner of the country through these agencies. The details of the scheme are available elsewhere but, on this day, we try to explain the importance of soil testing in agriculture.
When we say agriculture, it includes horticulture and allied activities as well. It is a fact that feeding millions in the future will require producing more from less, as there are no other options as of now. So, the increase has to come through increased productivity, which is possible only if our soils are in a good state of fertility and health. The ground reality is that production has attained a plateauing trend and in certain cases it is declining, while the costs incurred on cultivating crops are increasing. The situation demands some suitable interventions and one is soil test-based nutrient management.
Studies show that crop nutrition not only influences plant growth and development but also the defence mechanism against both biotic and abiotic stresses. Studies at national level indicate that fertiliser response ratio (unit increase in yield per unit nutrient application) has declined drastically from 13.4 in 1970 to mere 3.2 in irrigated areas. Studies further reveal that in 1970 we required 54 kg fertiliser nutrient for 2t/ha crop yield level but for sustaining the same yield level now we need 280 kg fertiliser, which is roughly five times more. This is a clear indication that the nutrients have been excessively removed and soil has been inadequately fed with nutrients.
Deficiency of even a single nutrient, either macro or micro, prevents the full expression of other nutrients. It is because of this reason many farmers complain that despite all efforts they are not getting the desired yield. It is not only the deficiency of plant nutrients in soil which affects the crop yield and quality but also disproportionate supply of plant nutrients. In view of these, testing for soil nutrient analysis and fertiliser recommendation becomes crucial.
Soil testing in addition to estimating the fertiliser requirement also helps to know about the soil reaction and salt concentration. Nutrients available in adequate quantity in the soil need not be applied and those found deficient in the test reports must be given priority. However, it is important to use organic, biological and inorganic sources of nutrients in combination and in adequate proportions suggested by experts.
Soil reaction. on the other hand, has a bearing on nutrient availability for the crop. Adverse soil reaction may render some nutrients unavailable and some elements may become available in excess, causing toxicity to the crop. Thus, it is really important for farmers to have an idea about what their farm soils possess and what and how much needs to be supplied for crop nutrition. This is possible only after getting the farm soil tested.
Earlier there were few testing laboratories but now the facilities are almost in every district. So, the farmers across the valley are requested to waste no time in contacting the experts of KVKs or nearby units of SKUAST-Kashmir or for that matter officials of department of Agriculture and Horticulture for understanding the procedure of soil sampling and all other important information related to soil health card scheme.
Farmers of Kulgam district can avail this facility at MRCFC, SKUAST-Kashmir, situated at Khudwani or at Krishi Vigyan Kendra Kulgam. They can also visit the Department of Agriculture or Horticulture in their respective zones.

Dr T Mubarak is Chief Scientist Agronomy (MRCFC)-SKUAST-Kashmir; Dr N R Sofi is Associate Director Research (MRCFC)-SKUAST-Kashmir; and Dr Aabid H Lone is Jr Scientist Soil Science, (MRCFC)-SKUAST-Kashmir

Dr T Mubarak, Dr N R Sofi and Dr Abid H Lone