The Agriculture Department has launched the second round of sample collection to conduct soil health test for issuing soil health cards to farmers in Dakshina Kannada district.
The cards are given as per the soil health management scheme under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture of the Centre.
According to H. Kempe Gowda, Joint Director of Agriculture, Dakshina Kannada, the department will have to collect samples from 25,000 soil grids in the district for 2017-19.
A sample represents the condition of soil in a farmland of five to 10 farmers. The department has set a target of collecting samples from 15,127 grids by the end of March 2018. Samples from at least 3,030 grids have been drawn now. “In all, 250 soil samples covering farmlands of 2,812 farmers have been analysed in the second round,” Mr. Gowda said recently.
Though ample collection began in April, it picked this month after the rains stopped, he said.
Analysis of samples collected during the first round for 2015-17 had revealed that farmlands across the district were facing a dearth of borax, zinc sulphate and phosphorous contents which are required for good crop productivity.
Also, the pH value of soil is less than 6.5, making it acidic in nature, owing to heavy rainfall across the district. The ideal range of pH value is between 6.5 and 7.5 for proper crop growth and production. If the pH value is less than 6.5 or more than 7.5, even if farmers apply manure, crops will not be able to absorb them. Hence, a balance should be maintained, Mr. Gowda said.
The deficiency could be overcome with the application of micro-nutrients. Farmers could purchase manure with micro-nutrients being supplied by the department at subsidised rates, he said.
A soil health card contains details of the extent of farmland, survey number, crop details, results of soil test, and recommendations for maintaining soil health.
