Farmers urged to protect soil health for better production

Soil scientists and experts urged grassroots farmers to protect soil health through proper management of acidic soil that can enhance crop yield by 25 percent on an average in the high Barind area.

Acidic soil management, as per the direction of land and soil resources application, can be the crucial means of boosting crop yield by protecting soil health in the region, particularly the vast Barind tract.

Soil management with liming and organic matter has become the demand of time for boosting crop yield by 25 percent on an average in the high Barind area because most of its lands have turned into acidic at present hampering crop production badly.

As a whole, acid soils are a major agricultural constraint for crop production due to its detrimental effect on soil fertility and productivity.

Soil health experts and scientists made the observation while conducting sessions of a daylong farmers training at Tanore Upazila Parishad conference hall in the district on Wednesday.

SRDI Principal Scientific Officers Dr Nurul Islam and Sadia Afrin, Senior Scientific Officer Nilufar Yesmin and Upazila Agriculture Officer Saifullah Ahmed addressed the training as resource persons disseminating their expertise on the issue.

Dr Nurul Islam attributed that liming and organic fertilization have been found effective towards boosting cropping yield through protecting soil health in the high Barind area.

Organic matter creates a positive soil environment from which plants can uptake nutrients from applied chemical fertilizers.

It increases the uptake of applied chemical fertilizers by the plants which contributes to increasing crop productivity through reducing toxic flow of active chemical fertilizers to the environment.

Dr Islam also said soil organic matter is a key factor in maintaining long-term soil fertility since it is the reservoir of metabolic energy, which drives soil biological processes involved in nutrient availability.

He defined that organic matter supplies plant nutrients, increases water holding capacity of soil, reduce residual negative effect of fertilizers and pesticides. It makes the crops more tolerant to diseases, insects and also prevents soil erosion.
It is also the energy source for soil microorganisms, which are the primary agents that enhance the decomposition and release of minerals in the soil system.

As a whole, soil environment is very important for plant growth and soil pH is the most important indicator of soil environment.

Saifullah Ahmed said substantial and sustainable uses of required organic fertilizers in the farming fields are very important for boosting its health and productivity which is imperative for feeding the country’s gradually rising population.

Plant and animal waste-based fertiliser has a vital role in protecting the soil nutrients which are being declined due to various natural and man-made catastrophes.

There is no alternative to protect the soil nutrients from further declining trends amidst the adverse impact of climate change.

He urged the participating farmers to make the best use of their knowledge acquired from the training in their practical fields properly so that other grassroots farmers can derive total benefits of the updated soil resource guide.

In her remarks, Sadia Afrin opined that climate change may affect soil health through lowering soil organic matters like nitrogen and phosphorus levels, decreasing soil moisture holding capacity, disturbing soil pH balance and effective soil calcium carbonate.

She, however, said organic matter supplies plant nutrients, increases the water-holding capacity of soil and reduces residual negative effects of fertilizers and pesticides. (BSS)