Importance of Soil
Healthy soils are said to be the foundation of our food system. Soils are the basis for cultivation and the medium in which almost all food-producing plants grow. If the soil is healthy, it will produce healthy crops that in turn will nourish human beings as well as animals. In other words, we can say that soil quality is directly linked to food quality & quantity.
Healthy and good quality food & animal fodder can be produced only if the soil is healthy living soil. Over the last five decades, advances in agricultural technology & increased demand owing to growing population have put the soils under increasing pressure.
Keeping all these factors in mind, the Government in 2015 launched Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme. Soil Health Card gives farmers soil nutrient status of his land and advises him accordingly on the dosage of fertilizers and important soil amendments that need to be maintained for good soil health.
Soil Health Card Scheme is very helpful for the farmers. There are many growers who do not know which types of crops should be grown to get more yield. They do not know about the quality & the type of their lands soil.
What is Soil Health Card (SHC)
Soil Health Card is a printed report that a cultivator is given for all his land. The report contains status of soil considering twelve parameters - N, P, K (Macro-nutrients); S (Secondary- nutrient); Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Bo (Micronutrients) & pH, EC, OC. Based on all these parameters, Soil Health Card will specify fertilizer recommendations as well as soil changes required in the land.
SHC will be made available once in every three years to the cultivators and this will indicate the status of soil health of his/her land for that particular period.
The State Government collects soil samples twice in a year. Then the samples are sent to different soil test laboratories in the state / country. A sum of Rs. 190 per soil sample is given to State Governments that covers the entire cost of collection of sample, testing, generation & distribution of Soil Health Card to farmers.
SHC provides 2 sets of fertilizer recommendations for 6 crops including suggestions of organic manures. Cultivators can also get recommendations for extra crops on demand. They can also print soil health card as their own from the official portal. SHC website has farmers database of both the cycles & is available in 21 languages for the benefit of farmers.
Soil Health Card Benefits
The benefits of the Soil Health Card Scheme are as follows:
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A soil health card will properly check the farmer’s soil and accordingly give him a formatted report so that he can decide upon what types of crops to be cultivated for more income.
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Regular monitoring of soil and once in every three years a report will be given to the farmers. Also, farmers will be regularly updated about their soil.
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Under the Soil Health Card scheme, the government employs experts to help farmers in adopting remedial measures.
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With the help of the Soil Health Card, farmers can plan for the future of their crops & land.
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It gives farmers a clear picture of which nutrients are lacking in the soil. Therefore, in which crops they should invest.
The right time for soil sampling
Soil samples are taken twice a year i.e., after harvesting of Rabi and Kharif Crop or when there is no standing crop in the field.
Cost per sample
Rs. 190 per soil sample is given to the State Governments that covers the cost of collection of soil sample, test, generation and distribution of soil health card to cultivator.
For more information, farmers can visit the website given below:
https://soilhealth.dac.gov.in/
