95 per cent Kurukshetra land has lower nitrogen and phosphorous content

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Kuruksehtra, December 3

Due to exploitation and indiscriminate use of fertiliser over the years, the soil health fertility of land is constantly declining. Recent soil tests reveal that the presence of nitrogen and phosphorous were low in 95 per cent of agriculture land in Kurukshetra.

While the availability of Potash, Sulphur and Calcium are medium to high,

Dr CB Singh, a retired agriculture scientist, said, “Soil is like a bank of nutrients but the extensive use of chemical based fertilisers and trend of taking continuous crops have exhausted the key nutrients from the soil. In order to take higher yield, the farmers have been using chemical based fertilisers and no attention has been paid towards the bio-fertilisers.”

“Chemical fertilisers have left a bad impact on the quality and taste of agriculture products too,” he added.

“Healthy soils are the basis for healthy food production and soil is a non-renewable resource. Its preservation is essential for food security and our sustainable future. It also supports our planet’s biodiversity and help to combat and adapt to climate change by playing a key role in the carbon cycle,” he added.

Deputy Directory, Agriculture, (DDA), Dr Wazir Singh said, “Kurukshtra land is fertile but there is a shortage of nutrients in the soil, especially nitrogen and phosphorous. Farmers have been using fertilisers in an unscientific manner. They must have the information about the nutrients available in the soil of their agriculture land and use fertiliser as per the recommendations only.”

He said “Around 11,000 soil samples have been collected from Ladwa and Pehowa blocks and their reports are likely to come within a few days. After getting the reports, soil health cards will be prepared which will carry the status of nutrients in the soil and crop wise recommendations,” he added.

On the occasion of World Soil Day on December 5, programmes will be held in 40 blocks of the state to increase awareness about the situation of nutrients in the soil. In Kurukshetra, programmes will be held in Pehowa and Ladwa blocks. The farmers would be advised for balanced use of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium — known as NPK.

The DDA said, “The agriculture department has started GPS-based soil testing practice and all the six blocks of the district would be covered within the next two years.”