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Soil Testing – Importance and Usefulness

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Soil Testing – Importance and Usefulness

India before independence when the population of our country was less than the area of ​​our country was the same and today the population has increased more, even then the area is the same. That is to say that due to the increase in population the land related to agriculture is decreasing that is why even today new scientific techniques are being cultivated.

The farmers of our country or every person who grows crops where the possibilities of cultivation are better that is why the Soil is easily tested in the laboratory. In view of the demands of the farmers today, the work of Soil testing is not sufficient in quantity.

Read more: Basics of Nutrient Management in Plant.

In the present time people are seen to be very aware about all kinds of agricultural problems. That is why people’s attention is not much towards this business related to agriculture. Today due to the good results of farming based on the knowledge of new technology people’s attention is being drawn towards this again.

According to the nutrient content of the Soil, which crop can be produced more in which Soil? It is also necessary to check it. However still in some parts of our country the lack of this information has been noticed among the farmers. But still there are many such areas, where farming is done even in the absence of these information. That is why that area is considered very suitable for this trade.

Soil test shows which nutrients are present in the Soil in more or less quantity. If you apply nutrients without Soil testing, then it is possible that more or less manure may be applied in the field. If you apply less manure than you need, you will get less yield and if you apply more manure there will be wrong use of manure and money will also go waste as well as there is a high possibility of Soil getting spoiled.

Read more: Role of EC, pH, NPK for crop production.

Fertilizers have an important place in modern times in agriculture. About 45 percent of the total crop production capacity is spent on fertilizers by farmers. So at the present time keeping in view the demand and price of fertilizers it is absolutely necessary that before sowing the crop the total quantity of fertilizers must be resolute on the basis of Soil test.

What is Soil test?

Soil testing is the chemical process by which the nutrient requirement of the Soil is determined. By this method the requirement of nutrients is known even before sowing the crop. So that the required fertilizers can be supplied on time.

Purpose of Soil Testing:

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  1. To determine the available nutrients of the Soil accurately.
  2. To give clear information to the farmer by detecting the deficiency of nutrients from the point of view of different crops.
  3. To find out the nutrient status in the Soil and on the basis of it recommend the application of fertilizers according to the crops.
  4. To express the recommendation of economically suitable fertilizers based on the results of Soil test.

To determine the specific Soil conditions so that the Soil can be improved with the help of agricultural methods and Soil-improving substances.

How to obtain Soil sample?

Soil sample holds a special place in Soil testing after which the fertilizers are determined. It is representative of a large part of the land. For Soil testing a sample of half a kilogram of Soil is taken.

Read more: How to do Soil Nutrient Management with Sensor?

 How to collect Soil samples through farm land?

  1. The land area from which the sample is collected should first be divided into different sections keeping in mind the slope of the land the composition of the Soil, the colour of the Soil, the variety of the previous crops, the yield and the amount of fertilizers given in it. Subsequently separate samples should be taken from each section.
  2. V Shaped samples up to a depth of 6 inches should be collected from 8-10 places from each section by scraper. After that collect all the samples at one place and make them finely and half kg. Take a representative sample. It should be dried in the shade and filled in a clean cloth or polythene bag and for identification, the following information should be kept inside the same bag by writing the following information on the label of thick paper and another label on the top of the bag.

Few information require from farmers end:

  1. Farmer’s name and father’s name
  2. Farm No. or Name
  3. Name of Village
  4. Name of the Development Block
  5. Name of the District Details of previous crop  
  6. Depth of Sampling
  7. Name of the sample collector

Read more: Chemical Fertilizer and its impact on Agriculture.

 Things to keep in mind while taking a Soil sample.

  1. Soil sample should not be taken from wet Soil.
  2. Samples should not be taken from high and low places in the field.
  3. Samples from old weeds, compost pits and composted sites
  4. Do not take. Soil sample should be taken from tree and roadside and near drain.
  5. Soil samples should be collected separately if the Soil type is different or if there is any disease in the crop.
  6. Do not sample from a standing crop.For taking sample from the land, a rectangular pit of 4 feet should be dug at a depth of 3 feet, the Soil sample should be taken at different depths like 9 inches, 9-10 inches, 18-30 inches.
  7. Soil samples should be sent to the examination laboratory about one and a half months before the sowing of the crop. For

Read more: How to cure Acidic Soil?

Determining the amount of fertilizers

In the experiment the representatives test the Soil sample for pH, bacterial content, available phosphate and potash after filtering it through sieves of different sizes and making it ready for testing. By organizing the data thus obtained into lower, middle and upper classes fertilizer suggestions are obtained on the basis of prescribed limits.

 


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