Mountain soil brought by floods has altered Punjab’s farmland: PAU VC

The recent floods in Punjab have done more than submerge fields --they’ve transformed them. Red sand and silt carried by floodwaters from the Himalayan foothills have settled across vast stretches of farmland, mixing with Punjab’s native soil and raising urgent questions about fertility, nutrient balance and the viability of future crops.

In an exclusive interview with The Tribune, Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), said this unexpected soil shift could have both adverse and beneficial effects.

“The red mountain soil is rich in minerals and supports crops in hilly regions. If mixed properly with our state’s soil, it may help but we need to test it thoroughly,” he said.

PAU is set to launch a comprehensive soil testing initiative to evaluate levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and determine how best to restore productivity.

Despite the destruction, Gosal remains cautiously optimistic. “If we manage the soil well and act quickly, we can turn this challenge into an opportunity. Mountain soil supports vegetables and crops — we just need to understand how to harness it.”

The floods have not only destroyed the present crop but have also compromised the viability of the next sowing season. “The damage is layered — fields are waterlogged and seeds stored for the next crop have been ruined.”

The rabi season, which includes wheat and gram, is now under threat. With stored seeds damaged and soil health compromised, farmers face an uphill battle. Remaining crops are vulnerable to diseases, nutrient deficiencies and insect infestations, further complicating recovery.

Gosal emphasised that the floods have not only damaged the present crop but the next crop as well. The university’s Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) will assess damage in affected villages and distribute wheat seeds for the next season at nominal prices, especially where stored seeds have been destroyed.

In Punjab, crop on 2.7 lakh hectares of farmland has been destroyed and the worst-hit district is Gurdaspur.

Crops such as rice, maize, oilseeds and pulses have been devastated with 4–5 ft of water drowning paddy fields and causing lodging in sugarcane. Fodder crops like jowar and bajra have been buried under thick layers of silt, leaving livestock feed in short supply.

“The remaining crops are now vulnerable to diseases, insect infestations and nutrient deficiencies. PAU has launched a crop contingency plan and also shared contact numbers of the experts for specific crops across various social media platforms,” Dr Gosal said. “This isn’t just a loss of one season — it’s a disruption of the entire agricultural cycle.”