Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Economy, Topic: Agriculture-Inputs, Issue: Impact of Fertilizer use on Soil Health
Context: The theme of the World Soil Day- Caring for soils- Measure, Monitor, and Manage.
Key Highlights:
Indian soils and the role of fertilizers:
Soil Composition:
- Less than 5 percent of Indian soils have sufficient nitrogen.
- Only 40 percent have sufficient phosphate and 32% have sufficient potash.
- Just 20% are sufficient in organic carbon.
Micronutrient deficiency: Soils also suffer from a deficiency of micronutrients like sulphur, iron, zinc, boron, etc.
Fertilizer supplementation: Major essential nutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphate (P) and potash (K) and other micronutrients supplement the natural deficiency of micronutrients.
Issues with fertilizer use:
Subsidy burden: The subsidy on fertilizers amounts to 1.88 lakh crore, which was almost 4% of the budget.
Price distortion: While DAP and MOP were brought under the Nutrient-Based Subsidy scheme in 2010, urea was left out. It led to highly distorted use of essential fertilizers.
Imbalanced use: While the N is being overused, P and K are underused. It leads to suboptimal agricultural productivity.
Poor Nitrogen Use Efficiency: The Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) of current fertilizers is not more then 35 to 40 percent.
Atmospheric leakage: The additional fertilizer applied goes into the atmosphere as nitrous oxide, which is 273 times the carbon dioxide.
Diversions: At least 20-25% of urea is being diverted to non-agricultural uses and also leaked into neighbouring countries.
Measures needed:
Deregulation: The price control should be deregulated on the lines of cement, diesel, etc.
Exploring DBTs: Farmers may be given equivalent direct income transfers in the form of digital coupons to buy fertilizers.
Micronutrient use: Promoting micro-nutrients can result in productivity as well as farmers profits.
Data based approach: Triangulating data on fertiliser sales, soil health cards (SHC), PM-KISAN, land records, crop grown, bank accounts and mobile numbers of farmers should be integrated.
India has eight major soil types: alluvial, black, red, laterite, arid/desert, forest, saline/alkaline, and peaty/marshy. These soils are classified based on their genesis, color, composition, and location.
1. Alluvial Soil: This is the most widespread and fertile soil type in India, found in the northern plains and river valleys. It’s formed by the deposition of river sediments and is highly productive for agriculture.
2. Black Soil: Also known as Regur or Black Cotton Soil, this soil is rich in nutrients and is well-suited for cotton cultivation. It’s found in the Deccan Plateau and is known for its high water-holding capacity.
3. Red Soil: This soil is rich in iron oxide, giving it its characteristic red color. It’s found in the Deccan Plateau, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and the Western Ghats.
4. Laterite Soil: These soils are formed in hot and wet tropical areas and are rich in iron and aluminum. They are found in South Maharashtra, the Western Ghats, parts of Assam, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and western West Bengal.
5. Arid/Desert Soil: This soil type is found in the arid and semi-arid regions of India, particularly in Rajasthan and Gujarat. It’s characterized by low fertility due to the lack of organic matter and high salt content.
6. Forest and Mountain Soil: These soils are formed in forested and mountainous areas and are rich in organic matter. They are found in the Himalayas, the Eastern Ghats, and other mountainous regions.
7. Saline and Alkaline Soil: These soils are characterized by high salt content and are found in coastal areas and areas with poor drainage. They are less fertile and require special management practices for cultivation.
8. Peaty/Marshy Soil: These soils are rich in organic matter and are found in marshy areas and coastal regions. They are known for their high water-holding capacity.
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/all-is-not-well-with-soil-9
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