Soil fertility ... when are we going to worry
The soil has life. Have we ever thought about this? How does the soil, which composts everything that falls into it, germinate only the seed? No one but the soil can do the trick of creating a giant tree out of a needle-sized seed. But, humans do not consider soil as an end in itself. This can only be realized by looking at the importance we give to that soil. We drag our fellow human beings into the dustbin to shout, "Ivan is like clay, your skull is like clay." But do you know how much science is buried in the soil? Millions of living things operate within a handful of soils. Science has confirmed the presence of 17 species of insects, 600 species of worms, 1,500 species of bacteria, and 3,500 species of fungi in the topsoil of one hectare of land.
Soil is nature's blessing to the world. Mand is the basis for most of the changes that take place in this world. Soil is the dust under the feet. But from time to time we forget that the world will suffer greatly even if there is a small change in that soil. For farmers, the soil is a medium for growing crops, and for politicians, the soil is a money-making amulet. According to scientists, the soil is a laboratory. We use the soil according to their convenience. But no one cares about the living soil lying in the intensive care unit for the past few years.
The farmer's intention
The crop must grow. The farmer's intention of getting a higher yield is correct. But, can you cut the golden duck for that? Farmers have been waging the greatest war on our soil for the last 50 years. They are degrading the vitality of the soil in the name of chemistry. But, they are not the only reason for that; It is because of the false propaganda that prompted them to do so. What if the amount of salt in the food we eat increases? Can't you put that food in your mouth? Is the soil like that? When salt (urea) is poured on it in bundles, the soil becomes charred. Soil fertility is determined by the ability of the soil to conduct salts and conduct electricity. It is fertile soil if it conducts less than one decimal/meter of electrical energy. It's okay to smuggle one to three decimals/meters. If it is transported more than three decimals/meter it is infertile soil. It does not get the right yield. Our agricultural scientists have failed to make this science clear to farmers. As a result, the whole earth of gold is rotten.
The world agrees that only organic fertilizers can balance the excess salt in the soil. That is why most countries have adopted organic farming. The international community has come to believe that the well-being of diseased soil is more important than soil fertility. That is why there is a growing awareness among farmers about organic inputs and micronutrients. To protect the soil, the Central Government has declared December 5 every year as the National Soil Resource Day. Since 2015, December 5 has been observed as Marriage Day. We will think about the welfare of the soil and make a commitment to protect the fertility and well-being of the soil from this day forward. Its first step is to avoid spraying chemicals on the soil.
Urging farmers to adopt such management practices to protect soil fertility!
Soil fertility is very essential for crop growth. Crop yields are severely affected by the physical and chemical conditions of the soil. A sociologist explains the physical nature of the soil and how to deal with it. Out of the total land area of 13 million hectares in Tamil Nadu, only about 7 million hectares are under agriculture. Of them, 3.1 million hectares are under irrigated crops. Rainfed lands are exposed to high levels of sunlight and natural disasters such as drought. Farmers must adopt appropriate land management practices to improve soil fertility and inculcate sustainable agriculture. Our country was once a pioneer in soil fertility. India's soil fertility is declining due to occupational agriculture, deforestation, and deforestation in drought-prone areas. In addition, soil fertility is affected by changes in soil properties and chemical hazards.
Risks caused by changes in the physical properties of the soil:
The low water infiltration capacity
The high water infiltration capacity
Feet soil compaction
Topsoil compaction
Light land
Sandy soil
The low water infiltration capacity
This type of soil is spread over an area of 7 lakh hectares in Tamil Nadu. The higher the clay content in the soil, the lower the water infiltration capacity. I.e. less than 0.5 cm per hour. Due to the lack of water in the soil, soil erosion occurs and nutrients are carried away from the soil surface.
Management methods
Appropriate drainage should be provided. Mixing river sand with field soil can reduce the fertility of the soil. Organic fertilizers like green manure, manure, compost, etc. can be applied in large quantities to the soil. Upland beds and bars can be set up and cropped.
The high water infiltration capacity
There are 24 lakh hectares of this type of soil in Tamil Nadu. This type of soil contains more than 70 percent sand which is less capable of retaining water and nutrients. Thus the structure of the soil is solid and the organic matter is low.
Management methods
Roll the field 8 to 10 times with a 400 kg stone cylinder at moderate humidity. Clay or pond sediment can be applied in the field up to 100 tons per hectare. Organic fertilizers like manure and bio-compost can be applied in large quantities. Green manure can be applied in a crop rotation system.
Feet soil compaction
This type of deficiency is present in about 10 lakh hectares in Tamil Nadu. Subsoil compaction is caused by the movement of topsoil from topsoil to loamy soils, the formation of iron, aluminum oxides, calcareous carbonates, high sodium ions in calcareous soils, and a soil density of more than 1.8 mm -3. Water and air infiltration are low in this type of soil. This impairs root growth and reduces the ability to absorb nutrients.
Management methods
Plow to a depth of 0.5 m at 0.5 m intervals with soil compost once in 2 to 3 years. Large quantities of organic manure should be applied to improve the soil structure. This will prevent the clay feet from going into the soil. Subsoil compaction can be avoided by summer plowing. Soil tightness can be avoided by cultivating deep-rooted crops like cassava and cotton.
Topsoil compaction
The crisis covers an area of about 4 lakh hectares in Tamil Nadu. In red soils, the soil particles are compacted and compacted by oxides of iron and aluminum gel. This affects seed germination, root growth, water infiltration, and aeration and causes soil erosion.
Management methods
Fertilizer can be applied at the rate of 10 tons per hectare or composted coconut fiber at the rate of 12.5 tons per hectare. Apply lime at the rate of 2 tons per hectare and plow the soil. Crops with bulky seeds can be cultivated. If the seeds are small in size the size of the seed should be increased.
Light wetland
The crisis covers an area of about 25,000 hectares in Tamil Nadu. Continuing to cultivate paddy causes the soil to lose its firmness and loosen. In paddy cultivation, the structure of the soil is broken due to stagnant water and siltation. Plow cows and laborers find it difficult to walk and work on this type of land. As the soil density decreases, the crop slopes without grip.
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