Optimize Fertilizer Use Management through Soil Health Assessment: Saves Money and the Environment

Soil health and fertility is the basis for sustainable profitability of the farmers.Hence, there is a need for balanced use of fertilizers, keeping this government of India introduced Soil Health Card Scheme across India. On 5th December 2015 the ministry of agriculture introduced the soil health card (SHC) scheme.Some farmers complained that the soil test values are not representative of their fields and they also complained that the field staff are not collected soil samples in their presence.In this background an attempt was made to study the impact on socio-economic conditions of the small and marginal farmers.Total of 120 respondents was selected in Ekangarsarai block, Nalanda district, Bihar by purposive sampling method. The data was collected from them and analyzed using MS-excel.Given the short duration of the scheme, knowledge levels are good. At the same time participation of farmers in meetings, exposure visits are not high. Awareness campaigns need to be organized on content of SHCs, use of recommended practices, reduction in fertilizer use and costs and increase in profitability.

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Soil health assessment for coffee farms on andosols in Colombia

Geoderma Regional ◽

10.1016/j.geodrs.2018.e00176 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

pp. e00176 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Fatma Rekik ◽

Harold van Es ◽

J. Nicolas Hernandez-Aguilera ◽

Miguel I. Gómez

Keyword(s):

Soil Health ◽

Health Assessment

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Soil health assessment and maintenance in Central and South-Central Brazil

Burleigh Dodds Series in Agricultural Science - Managing soil health for sustainable agriculture Volume 2 ◽

10.19103/as.2017.0033.35 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 379-415

Author(s):

Ieda C. Mendes ◽

◽

Cássio A. Tormena ◽

Maurício R. Cherubin ◽

Douglas L. Karlen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Health ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Central Brazil ◽

South Central

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Sensor data fusion for soil health assessment

Geoderma ◽

10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.05.031 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 305 ◽

pp. 53-61 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Kristen S. Veum ◽

Kenneth A. Sudduth ◽

Robert J. Kremer ◽

Newell R. Kitchen

Keyword(s):

Data Fusion ◽

Soil Health ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Sensor Data ◽

Sensor Data Fusion

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Tillage Intensity Effects on Soil Structure Indicators—A US Meta-Analysis

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12052071 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 2071 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Márcio R. Nunes ◽

Douglas L. Karlen ◽

Thomas B. Moorman

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Soil Structure ◽

Management Practices ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Soil Health ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Soil Penetration Resistance ◽

Wet Aggregate Stability

Tillage intensity affects soil structure in many ways but the magnitude and type (+/−) of change depends on site-specific (e.g., soil type) and experimental details (crop rotation, study length, sampling depth, etc.). This meta-analysis examines published effects of chisel plowing (CP), no-tillage (NT) and perennial cropping systems (PER) relative to moldboard plowing (MP) on three soil structure indicators: wet aggregate stability (AS), bulk density (BD) and soil penetration resistance (PR). The data represents four depth increments (from 0 to >40-cm) in 295 studies from throughout the continental U.S. Overall, converting from MP to CP did not affect those soil structure indicators but reducing tillage intensity from MP to NT increased AS in the surface (<15-cm) and slightly decreased BD and PR below 25-cm. The largest positive effect of NT on AS was observed within Inceptisols and Entisols after a minimum of three years. Compared to MP, NT had a minimal effect on soil compaction indicators (BD and PR) but as expected, converting from MP to PER systems improved soil structure at all soil depths (0 to >40-cm). Among those three soil structure indicators, AS was the most sensitive to management practices; thus, it should be used as a physical indicator for overall soil health assessment. In addition, based on this national meta-analysis, we conclude that reducing tillage intensity improves soil structure, thus offering producers assurance those practices are feasible for crop production and that they will also help sustain soil resources.

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Soil Health Assessment and Management: Recent Development in Science and Practices

Soil Systems ◽

10.3390/soilsystems5040061 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 61

Author(s):

Mingxin Guo

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Management Practices ◽

Conservation Tillage ◽

Soil Health ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Assessment Methods ◽

Scientific Validity ◽

Health Card ◽

Research Education

In the past decade soil health has been intensively studied as a science and practiced as a means to help improve the global social, environmental, and economic sustainability. This paper reviews the recent advances of the scientific soil health system. The current understanding and interpretation of soil health from the perspectives of soil functions, processes, and properties is summarized. Multi-tier soil health indicators were selected from relevant soil physical, chemical, and biological parameters. A suite of soil health assessment methods have been developed, such as soil health card, Solvita soil health tests, Haney soil health test, and comprehensive assessment of soil health. An array of soil health management practices have been recommended, including proper land use, crop rotation, cover crops, conservation tillage, soil organic amendment, crop-range-livestock integration, and rotational grazing. Overall, the recommended soil health indicators and assessment methods need further validation and improvement in relevance, scientific validity, practicality, and local adaptation. Continuous research, education, and outreach efforts are warranted to promote localized development, adoption, and implementation of soil health assessment and management.

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SMAF: A Soil Health Assessment Tool

The Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science ◽

10.17833/120-02.1 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 120 (1-4) ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

D. L. KARLEN ◽

C. D. NANCE ◽

D. L. DINNES ◽

D. W. MEEK

Keyword(s):

Soil Quality ◽

Management Practices ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Soil Health ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Soil Management ◽

Winter Triticale ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Health Differences ◽

Health Assessments

The Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) was developed to help quantify soil quality/health effects of tillage, crop rotation, and other soil management practices. Our objective was to determine if the SMAF could detect soil health differences after growing a single winter triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) crop. Soil samples were collected from 0 to 7.5- and 7.5 to 15-cm depth increments during the 2003 – 2004 and 2004 – 2005 growing seasons near Ames and Lewis, IA, and analyzed for several potential soil quality indicators. The SMAF analysis showed higher soil quality ratings for surface than subsurface samples. It also showed that a single winter grain crop can significantly improve soil quality after either corn (Zea mays L.) or soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.). Finally, in response to increasing interest in soil health assessments, a detailed appendix is attached to provide guidance for future soil health assessments.

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