Compendium on Soil Health - Department of Agriculture & Co ...

Fertilizer consumption has to be crop responsive and efficient to increase production while
rationalizing input cost and minimizing environmental degradation. A fertilizer not suitable to a
soil type can be called as an incorrect fertilizer used for that soil and it will contribute in
consumption amounts. Different types of fertilizers are required to be used in acid and alkali
soils. Where citrate soluble and water insoluble phosphatic fertilizers can be efficiently used in
acid soils, they will not respond in alkali soils. Fertigation involving the use of water soluble
fertilizers through sprinklers and drips is expected to give better use efficiency for both, the
water and fertilizers. Site specific nutrient management involving soil test based application of
fertilizers is critical to efficient utilization. Use of required sources of plant nutrients has to be
promoted, coupled with the use of soil amendments in acidic/ alkaline soils for moderating
acidity/alkalinity by bringing the soil pH to near neutrality so as to enhance soil nutrient
availability and efficiency.
The soil testing programme was started in India during the year 1955-56 with the setting-up of
16 soil testing laboratories under the Indo-US Operational Agreement for “Determination of
Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Use”. In 1965, five of the existing laboratories were strengthened and
nine new laboratories were established with a view to serve the Intensive Agricultural District
Programme (IADP) in selected districts. To meet the increasing requirement of soil testing
facilities, 25 new soil-testing laboratories were added in 1970. In addition to this, 34 mobile soil
testing vans were established under the joint auspices of the Technical Cooperation Mission
(TCM) of USA, IARI and Govt. of India to serve the farmers in remote areas and also provide
education to them on the benefits of balanced fertilization through group discussions,
demonstrations, film shows etc.
The capacity of the soil testing laboratories in the intensive agricultural districts was initially
created to analyse 30,000 soil samples annually by each laboratory. The installed capacity of
the laboratories varied from 1000 samples/yr/lab (some cases in UP) to 30,000 to 70,000
samples/year, in Tamil Nadu. Out of 354 testing laboratories functioning with an analysing
capacity at approx. 4 million soil samples per year, during 1981, 90 laboratories each had less
than 5000 sample analysing capacity per annum, 142 labs had 6-10,000 samples capacity and
65 labs had a capacity to analyze between 11-20,000 samples/year. A total of 47 labs had a
capacity of 21-30,000 samples per year and 10 labs had more than 30,000 samples/year
capacity. Presently, the thinking is to set-up smaller laboratories with the analysing capacity of
10-12,000 samples/year. Till about 1980, the laboratories generally used to analyse soil samples
for pH, texture, electrical conductivity, and available N P K. There used to be no analysis for
micronutrients. The process of setting up of soil testing laboratories has continued, year after
year, with the financial support from Government of India, State Governments and Fertilizer
companies who are also setting-up the soil testing laboratories.
Government of India is promoting integrated nutrient management (INM) balanced and
judicious use of chemical fertilizers, bio-fertilizers and locally available organic manures like
farmyard manure, compost, vermi compost and green manure based on soil testing to maintain
soil health and productivity. Total nutrient content varies from soil to soil depending upon the
nature of parent material and other soil forming processes. Only the plant available form of the