A printed report on twelve soil parameters for each farm holding

Background

The Soil Health Card Scheme was launched at Suratgarh in Rajasthan on 19.02.2015, with the slogan "Swasth Dharaa. Khet Haraa." - Healthy Earth, Green Farm. The card is a printed report handed over to a farmer for each of his holdings. It carries the status of the soil with respect to 12 parameters: Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium as macro-nutrients; Sulphur as a secondary nutrient; Zinc, Iron, Copper, Manganese and Boron as micro-nutrients; and pH, EC and OC as physical parameters. On that basis the card indicates the fertilizer recommendation and the soil amendment required for the farm, and advises the farmer on the quantities to apply so as to realize optimal yields. The scheme also aims to strengthen the functioning of Soil Testing Laboratories through capacity building, the involvement of agriculture students and effective linkage with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and State Agricultural Universities. The International Year of Soils was celebrated in 2015, the same year this programme was launched in India to assess the nutrient status of every farm holding in the country.