Dr.S.

Maragatham
Professor (SS&AC)

Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry

Directorate of Natural Resource Management
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Coimbatore – 641 003
Major Issues….
 2030
Population : 1.50 billion
Foodgrain demand : 355 mt
332 mt

 NPK use Ratio

9.8:3.7:1 in 2023-24 vs 4:2:1 (optimum ratio)

 Agrl. productivity and Response Ratio (FUE)

Decline over years (13.4 to 3.7 kg grain /kg of NPK)
 Reasons for static or decline in yield

 Low organic matter content

 Imbalanced nutrition

 Not practicing the conjoint use of organics

and biofertilisers with inorganic fertilisers
 Soil health refers to the..
Soil health is defined as the continued
capacity of soil to function as a vital living
ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and
humans.
“Integration of biological with chemical and
physical approaches to soil management
for long term sustainability of crop
productivity with minimal impact on the
environment”
(Wolfe, 2000)
Source: http://mulch.mannlib.cornell.edu/soilhealthdef.html
Soil health
“The capacity of a soil to function within
ecosystem boundaries to sustain biological
productivity”.

In simplest terms, soil quality or soil health is

“the fitness of soil for use””.

In agricultural systems,
“high quality soil provides sustained and
productive growth of crops” with minimal
impacts on the environment
Physical Chemical

Biological
Soil Quality

• Physical indicators
• Chemical indicators
• Biological indicators
Physical Indicators

 Texture
 Structure
 Bulk Density
 Particle Density
 Porosity
 Infiltration Rate
 Hydraulic Conductivity
 Water content & WHC
 Particulars Red soil Black soil
Bulk Density (Mg m-3) 1.2 -1.4 1.1 – 1.3

Porosity (%) 40 - 50 60 - 70

Infiltration rate (cm hr-1) 2-4 1-2

Hydraulic conductivity (cm hr-1) 5-8 2-5

Texture sandy loam, clay,
sandy clay loam clay loam
Structure crumb / granular crumb / granular
 CHEMICAL INDICATORS

 pH, EC, CEC, Organic carbon, ESP

 Macro & micronutrient status
Ratings for Soil pH and EC as followed in Tamil Nadu

S.No. Parameters Acidic Neutral Alkaline

1. pH <6.5 6.5 - 7.5 >7.5

2. EC (dS m-1) Upto 1.0 1.1 - 3.0 >3.0

Ratings for Soil Available Nutrients as followed in Tamil Nadu

S.No. Nutrients Low Medium High

1. Organic Carbon (%) <0.5 0.5-0.75 >0.75

2. Available N (kg ha‑1) <280 280-450 >450

3. Available P (kg ha-1)

Olsen P < 11 11 - 22 >22

Bray P < 24.2 24.2 - 49.7 >49.7

4. Available K (kg ha-1) < 118 118 - 280 >280

Critical level for Available Micronutrients

S.No Elements Deficient (ppm)

1. CaCl2 - S (mg kg-1) < 10

2. DTPA - Fe (mg kg-1) < 3.7(Calcareous)

<6.3 (Non Calcareous)
3. DTPA - Mn (mg kg-1) < 2.0

4. DTPA - Zn (mg kg-1) < 0.85

5. DTPA - Cu (mg kg-1) < 0.63

6. Hot Water Soluble Boron < 0.46

(mg kg-1)
Biological indicators

 Microbial biomass
 Microbial activity
 C & N cycling
 Biodiversity & Microbial resilience
 Bioavailability of contaminants1
teaspoon soil 50 billion MO
Tamil Nadu - Soil Health

Macronutrients (%)

Low Medium High

Nitrogen 85 10 5
Phosphorus 40 50 10
Potassium 30 50 20
 Scenario of Micronutrients and Sulphur deficiency in
Tamil Nadu
No. of districts covered from 2006 to 2013: 15

 Soil micronutrient deficiency level (Zn and Cu) increased considerably in the
recent past.
 Soil Health – Issues

 Physical degradation
 Chemical degradation
 Biological degradation
Physical degradation
 Compaction, crusting, erosion
 Water logging
 Excessive cultivation

Chemical degradation
 Imbalanced nutrition - NPK
 Multi - nutrient deficiencies
 NPK mining 8-10 mt per annum
 Poor NUE
 Acidification & Al toxicity in acid soils
 Salinity and alkalinity

Biological degradation
 Decline in soil organic matter (1.20% to 0.68%)
 Loss of soil fauna and flora
 Technologies for Physical constraints
S.No. Constraint Management Technology

1. Sub-soil hard pan Chisel ploughing and application

of organic amendments

2. Excessively Compaction technology using

permeable soils stone roller
(Sandy soils)
3. Fluffy paddy soils Compaction technology using
stone roller

4. Slow permeable soils Raised bed plots followed by

with high clay content sowing on ridges.

5. Surface crusting Application of lime @ 2 t ha-1

(Red and laterites) along with FYM 10 t ha-1 after
ploughing at optimum soil
moisture.
Sub soil hardpan
.
Fluffy paddy soils
Compaction technology using
stone roller increased the rice
grain yield by 35.5 per cent over
control

Excessively
permeable soils
(sandy soils)
Compacting the field with 400 kg
stone roller (tar drum filled
with 400 kg of sand or stones can
also be used) 8-10 times at
optimum moisture conditions.
 Characterized by low pH ( < 6.0)
 Predominance of H+ and Al, Fe, Mn
 Deficiency of P,K, Ca, Mg, Mo and B

Genesis of Acid soils

Parent material, high RF, Organic matter, Acid
fertilizer, industrial effluents

Reclamation- Liming – calcite and dolomite

 Characterized by EC > 4.0 (dS m-1), ESP < 15 and pH < 8.5
 Higher amount of water soluble salt
Genesis
Parental material, low rainfall, high evaporation, poor
drainage, high water table, irrigation water, base forming
fertilizers
Reclamation
Soil management – Crop, cultural, fertilizer and irrigation
management
 Characterized by EC < 4.0 (dS m-1), ESP > 15 and pH > 8.5
 Higher amount of carbonate and bicarbonate – injury
 Deficiency of Fe, Zn and P
Genesis
Parental material, low rainfall, high evaporation, poor
drainage, high water table, irrigation water, sea water
intrusion and base forming fertilizers
Reclamation
Deep ploughing - Proper drainage.
Application of gypsum and organic manures, cultivation of
green manures, grasses and trees
 Essential
Nutrients

Primary Secondary
Nutrients Nutrients Micronutrients
N,P&K Ca, Mg & S Fe, Mn,Zn,Cu,B,
Mo, Cl & Ni
PHASES OF SOIL TESTING
Collection of soil sample
Analysis of soil in the lab
Interpretation of results
Prescription of fertilizers
Follow up of results
 To sort out problem areas from non problematic areas
(Acidity /Alkalinity/Salinity) and reclamation
 To know about fertility status
 To provide soil test based fertiliser recommendations and
management technologies
 To prepare soil fertility maps
 After Harvest
 Standing crop - between lines
 Sampling at several locations in a zig-
zag pattern ensures homogeneity.
 Avoid wet spots, areas near bunds, trees, manure heaps & irrigation channels
 Avoid contamination of agro chemicals / metals
 One sample / 2 ha or 5 ha (Max)
 One sample / 0.5 ha (Min.)
 Fields, which are similar in appearance, production and past-management
practices, can be grouped into a single sampling unit
 Collect separate samples from fields that differ in colour, slope, drainage, past
management practices like liming, gypsum application, fertilization, cropping
system etc.
 Based on colour, slope, texture, drainage, past management practices, etc.,
 Collect samples at maximum no. of sampling points
 Always collect the soil sample in presence of the farm owner who knows the farm
better.
Procedure
Divide the field into different homogenous units based on the visual
observation and farmer’s experience.
Select the sampling spots.
Remove the surface litter at the sampling spot.
Drive the auger to a plough depth of 15 cm and draw the soil sample.
Collect at least 10 to 15 samples from each sampling unit and place in a
bucket or tray.
If auger is not available, make a ‘V’ shaped cut to a depth of 15 cm in
the sampling spot using spade.
Remove thick slices of soil from top to bottom of exposed face of the ‘V’
shaped cut and place in a clean container.

2.5 cm 15 cm
 Mix the samples thus collected thoroughly and remove foreign
materials like roots, stones, pebbles and gravels.
 Reduce the bulk to about half to one kilogram by quartering or
compartmentalization.
 Collect the sample in a clean cloth or polythene bag.
 Label the bag with information
• Name of the farmer,
• Location of the farm,
• Survey No.,
• Previous crop grown,
• Present crop,
• Crop to be grown in the next season,
• Date of collection and
• Name of the sampler etc.
 Compartmentalization
Quartering
Done by uniformly spreading the soil
Done by dividing the thoroughly
over a clean hard surface
mixed sample into four equal
parts
Dividing into smaller compartments
by drawing lines along and across
The two opposite quarters are
the length and breadth
discarded and the remaining
two quarters are remixed
From each compartment a pinch of
soil is collected
The process repeated until the
desired sample size is obtained
This process is repeated till the
desired quantity of sample is
obtained

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     

     
 Collection of soil samples for Perennial/
Plantation or Orchard crop

After the profile has been exposed, clean one face of the pit
carefully with a spade and make mark at 30, 60 and 90cm.

Prick the surface with a knife or edge of the spade to show up

structure, colour and compactness.

Collectsamples starting from the bottom most horizon first by

holding a large basin at the bottom limit while the soil above is
loosened by a khurpi.

Collect soil samples separately and transfer to a polythene or

cloth bag and label it and process it as mentioned for shallow
rooted and deep rooted crops.
Processing and storage
Assign the sample number and enter it in the laboratory soil sample
register.

Dry the sample collected from the field in shade by spreading on a

clean sheet of paper after breaking the large lumps, if present.

Spread the soil on a paper or polythene sheet on a hard surface and

powder the sample by breaking the clods to its ultimate soil particle
using a wooden mallet.

Sieve the soil material through 2 mm sieve.

Repeat powdering and sieving until only materials of >2mm (no soil
or clod) are left on the sieve.

Collect the material passing through the sieve and store in a clean
glass or plastic container or polythene bag with proper labeling for
laboratory analysis.
 Care to be taken…
 For the determination of organic matter it is desirable to grind a
representative sub sample and sieve it through 0.2 mm sieve.
 If the samples are meant for the analysis of micronutrients at-most care is
needed in handling the sample to avoid contamination of iron, zinc and
copper. Brass sieves should be avoided and it is better to use stainless steel
or polythene materials for collection, processing and storage of samples.
 Air-drying of soils must be avoided if the samples are to be analyzed for

NO3-N and NH4-N as well as for bacterial count.

 Field moisture content must be estimated in un-dried sample or to be
preserved in a sealed polythene bag immediately after collection.
 Estimate the moisture content of sample before every analysis to express
the results on dry weight basis.
 Spade

Post hole
augers Screw auger
 Soil sampling depth
S.No. Crop
Inches Cm

1 Grasses and grasslands 2 5

Rice, finger millet, ground
nut, pearl millet, small
2 millets etc.(shallow rooted 6 15
crops)
Cotton, sugarcane, banana,
3 tapioca, vegetables etc. 9 22
(deep rooted crops)

Three soil Three soil

4 Perennial crops, plantations samples at 12, 24 samples at
and orchard crops and 36 inches 30, 60 and 90
cm
 Remove the surface
litter at the sampling
spot.

Make a ‘V’ shaped cut

to a depth of 15 cm

Remove thick slices of soil

from top to bottom of exposed
face of the ‘V’ shaped cut

Mix the samples thus

collected thoroughly

Reduce the bulk to about half

to one kilogram by quartering
or compartmentalization.
 Balanced fertilization...

 Rational use of fertilizers for the supply of plant

nutrients that harness the best possible positive
and synergistic interactions among various factors

of production (seeds, water and agrochemicals)

 Produce least adverse effect on environment by

minimizing nutrient losses, maintaining soil
productivity and sustaining yields
4 ‘R’ s for Balanced Fertilization

Source

Method

Time

Quantity
To enhance soil fertility....

• Green manures
• Organic manures
• Vermicompost
• Biocompost
• Crop rotations
• Biofertilizers
• Chemical fertilizers
 Soil Test Crop Response Based Fertilizer
Prescription Under Integrated Plant Nutrition
System

STCR-IPNS
 Soil Test based fertilizer recommendation

Crop: Rice Season: Kharif Soil: Noyyal series

Initial Soil Tests (kg ha-1) NPK+GM+Azo+PB(kg ha-1)

Yd. target-70 q ha-1
N P K N P2O5 K2O

180 14 240 160 82 44

200 16 260 150 74 36

220 18 280 140 68 29

240 20 300 130 60 21

 Soil Test based fertilizer recommendation

Crop: Groundnut
Season: Kharif Soil: Laterite - Sandy clay loam

Initial Soil Tests (kg ha-1) NPK+FYM (kg ha-1)

Yd. target-25 q ha-1
N P K N P2O5 K2O
180 10 120 28 42 67
200 12 140 19 35 56
220 14 160 13* 29 44
240 16 180 13* 22 32
 STCR based fertilizer recommendation

Crop: Cotton Season: Rabi

Soil: Mixed Black (P.N.Palayam series)
Initial Soil Test (kg ha-1) NPK+FYM+Azo+PSB
(kg ha-1)
Yd. target- 30 q ha-1
N P K N P2O5 K2O
200 10 300 88 30 33

220 12 340 76 28 23

240 14 380 63 25 20*

260 16 420 51 22 20*

 STCR based fertilizer recommendation

Crop: Turmeric Season : Annual Soil: Red sandy

loam
(Irugur
series)
Initial Soil Tests (kg ha-1) NPK+FYM/CCP/PM
Yd. target-350 q ha-1
N P K N P2O5 K2O
175 10 175 168 102 138
200 12 200 148 92 126
225 14 225 127 82 113
250 16 250 106 71 101
STCR-IPNS Long Term Demonstration
Location: Wetlands,TNAU,Coimbatore
Year of Start: Kharif, 1998
Soil Testing and Technology Advisory
Centre (SOTAC)
Analysis of soil and irrigation water samples

Providing technology advisories

DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATED
FERTILISER RECOMMENDATION
 Inputs
Equation available for the
YES given soil series, crop and
Season

NO
Retrieval of STCR
constants from database Equation available for the
given crop and situation YES
NO Retrieval of M & B
constants from database
Retrieval of Blanket N, P
and K recommendation
Calculation of from database for the
recommended N, P and K Calculation of
given crop and situation
recommended N, P and K

Recommended N, P and K

Retrieval of constants for Corrections for Organics Retrieval of split

the organics from the and calculation of split application details from
database application details the database

Correction/additional Results display and Database update

inputs printing
 User friendly software
 Developed in Visual Basic 6.0
 “Stand Alone” version
 Encompasses soil test based fertilizer recommendations by
STCR, TNAU & SDA
 1645 situations
 190 agricultural & horticultural crops
 Can be used in all STLs with desktop computers
 Bamini font Tamil type key board
 Soil Health Card – English and Tamil
 Problem soil management
 Irrigation water quality appraisal.
 Analytical charges –Farmers
Details Fee per sample
(Including 18 % GST) (Rs.)

Soil analysis
Soil pH & EC, texture, calcareousness and Available N, P, K 100.00
analysis
Soil Micronutrients analysis- Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn 250.00
Soil organic carbon 90.00
Soil Boron 200.00
Available S, Ca, Mg analysis (*Rate per element) 150.00 *
Soil textural analysis (International pipette method) 900.00
Bulk density, Particle density and Porosity analysis
250.00
(Cylinder method)
Soil available moisture
600.00
(Pressure plate apparatus)
Bulk density, particle density, Porosity, Water holding capacity
1800.00
and volume expansion (Keen Raczkowski box method)

Irrigation water analysis

Irrigation Water pH and EC analysis
60.00
Irrigation Water - Na, K, Ca, Mg, CO 3, HCO3 and Cl analysis
240.00
Visual Diagnostic Kit (VDK)
 USES OF VISUAL DIAGNOSTIC KIT (VDK)

•Software for the identification of nutrient deficiencies in plants

•Covers agricultural and horticultural crops (25 + 40)
•Handy tool can be used by farmers, students, scientists and
extension workers
•Provides suitable prescriptions for correcting the deficiency
 Crop Specific TNAU Micronutrient Mixtures
Dosage (kg ha-1)
Crops
Irrigated Rainfed
Rice -
25.0 12.5
wetland
Maize 30.0 7.5
Pulses 5.0 5.0
Sugarcane 50.0 -
Cotton Variety - 12.5 7.5
Hybrid - 15.0 7.5
Groundnut 12.5 7.5
Gingelly 12.5 7.5
Sunflower Variety - 12.5 7.5  Application: Basal as EFYM (1:10)
Hybrid - 15.0 10.0
Castor Variety -12.5 7.5 for 30 days
Hybrid -15.0 10.0  Rate: Rs. 130/kg inclusive of GST
Coconut 1 kg / tree / year -
Turmeric Split dose of
15 kg (½-
basal;½-90 DAP)
Benefits
Alleviates multi-micronutrients
deficiencies
Increased cob / copra size and
weight
Reduced flowers/ button shedding
Increased pest and disease
resistance
High yield - 11-20%
Improved quality
Balanced fertilization of crops
through nutrient mixtures will
ensure enhanced crop productivity
and maintenance of soil fertility
TNAU Water Soluble Fertilizer
Soil Fertility Maps of Coimbatore District
Soil Fertility Maps of Tiruppur District
Soil Fertility Maps of Tiruppur District
Soil Fertility Maps of Erode District
Enhancement of soil biological quality
Low soil microbial diversity indicates
stressed conditions in soil while high
diversity is an indicator of a healthy soil.

Dehydrogenase and urease activities

were low in alkali soils, which however
improved upon the addition of gypsum
followed by cropping, growing trees or
grasses.
On a sandy clay loam soil - substantial
improvement in soil respiration rate was
increased due to straw + GM incorporation over
straw removal or burning.

Soil pollution from industrial wastes, excessive

use of pesticides and heavy metal
contamination.
Thank
you