Excessive use of chemical fertilizers over the years has been causing damage to the soil and ground water resources in and around Musiri. With a view to sensitising the farmers to the importance of restoring the texture of the soil and consequent conservation of ground water table, the Indian Farmers’ Fertilizers Co-operatives (IFFCO) has taken up a free soil and water testing camp at 15 select villages in the periphery of Musiri town.
The camp has been conducted at Kolakudi, Soorampatti and Appanallur villages so far in the past three days and, at the rate of 50 samples a village, the scientists attached to the IFFCO’s Mobile Soil Testing laboratory, have collected 150 samples of soil and water from the farmers’ fields and wells.
B. Krishnan, Area Manager, IFFCO, said that in almost all the fields, deficiency of nitrogen and phosphorous had been identified while the potash deficiency was found to be medium to high. Samples would be collected from sodic soil, alkaline soil and acid soil.
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S. John Basha, Field Manager, said that ‘soil health cards’ would be distributed to each farmer at the valediction of the camp on April 28. The camp aimed at enhancing productivity of paddy, chillies and sugarcane in the area, he added.