Optimize Fertilizer Use Management through Soil Health Assessment: Saves Money and the Environment

Abstract

More fertilizer doesn't always mean a higher crop production, if there isn't the right mix of nutrients, water and soil health conditions. Soil Health Card (SHC) assessment provide soil nutrient status of land holding of each farmer and advise corrective dosage of major fertilizers, micronutrient and soil amendments to maintain soil health and obtain a better yield. Our aim to investigate a prototype of a soil health checklist that exemplifies the uses of right fertilizer mixture in jute-rice-potato, jute-rice-lentil and jute-rice-mustard cropping system which would be regarded by farmers as useful and acceptable for monitoring soil health and minimise the soil pollution.Soil samples were collected from 89 farmer’s field of the study area and analysed for 10 soil health parameters based on farmer’s fertilizer uses and knowledge of local natural resources to examine the total NPK uses/ratio for each cropping system.The study finds that the consumption ratio of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium was 1.1:2.3:1 in jute-ricelentil/ mustard and 1.2:2.9:1 in jute-rice-potato cropping systemas against recommended ratio of 4:2:1.The trends in use of phosphorous and potassium show largely a steady path, whereas consumption of nitrogen shows a declining trend.