info........ - CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University

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for most soil-crop situations. Dr. Suri has been engaged in the development of INM (use of
chemical fertilizers + organics + biofertilizers) technology (with and without soil testing
component) for rainfed cereals, pulses and oilseeds of Himachal Pradesh. He tried to
conduct most of his research on cropping system basis which is actually the need of the day.
Based on his original work, it was concluded that 50 per cent of recommended fertilizer
nutrients could be saved through the use of organics and biofertilizers. He has developed
fertilizer adjustment equations/models based on yield target concept for various crops which
are usable by soil testing laboratories for making precise (as per soil tests, yield target
chosen, etc.) and most judicious fertilizer recommendations to the cultivators. Dr. Suri’s
above work facilitates recommendation of balanced doses of N, P and K (+organics and
biofertilizers) for different levels of crop production (low, medium and high) ensuring
maintenance of soil fertility at the same time. Since, the information has been converted into
very simple ready reckoners, these can be easily followed by the soil testing officers as well
as the farmers.
Actually, Dr. Suri reoriented the technical plan of work of Palampur Centre of the
All India Co-orginated Research Project on Soil Test Crop Response (ICAR) by
introducing the concepts of nutrient economy, healthy soils and high productivity
by means of integrated nutrition. The outcome is the generation of data-base
which is helpful in making fertilizer recommendations as elaborated above. Some
of the findings of practical utility are given below:
1. Fertilizer application based on yield target concept is superior to traditional
approaches as reflected through higher yield, optimal economic returns and soil
fertility build-up.
2. Complementary use of FYM in rainfed maize, under yield target concept, resulted into
fertilizer N, P and K economy of 40-60 per cent under various targets.
3. Complementary use of biofertilizers in rainfed maize i.e. used phosphobacterial and
Azotobacter cultures led to additional P and N savings of about 20 kg/ha each.
4. Results from a long term experiment showed that NPK fertilizer doses for attaining
targeted yields decreased with time due to fertility build-up.
5. Blue green algae (BGA) application at 10 kg/ha in standing water in rice after 10 days
of transplanting leads to fertilizer N saving of 30 kg N/ha. Moreover, it has a residual
effect on following wheat (2 q/ha higher wheat grain).
6. Farm yard manure (FYM) alone or along with nominal amounts of N say 40 kg N/ha
cannot tap the production potential of rainfed maize-wheat system under low hill submontane
conditions; P and K applications increase yields substantially.