Methods For Creating A Soil Health Card?

The Soil Health Card Scheme is an online registration process for leading farmers in India, aimed at promoting soil test-based and balanced use of fertilisers to enable higher yields at lower costs. The scheme aims to raise awareness about the importance of soil health indicators and develop a Soil Health Card. Farmers can obtain the card by visiting the government’s website using their phone number or registration number.

To get a Soil Health Card, farmers must first approach a District Agriculture Officer or Block Agriculture Officer for soil testing and generation of a Soil Health Card (SHC). To create an account for a new user, click on “Register New User” and then click on “Initial User Registration form”.

There is no burden on farmers to generate a Soil Health Card. The entire process, from soil sample collection to test report generation, should be done by trained individuals. Soil samples should be collected from a depth of 15-20 cm by cutting the soil in a “V” shape and collected from four corners.

Professional institutes like Andhra University, JNTU Kannada, and NIT Warangal ETC are required to provide the necessary training and resources. The Soil Health Card Scheme aims to help farmers realize higher yields at lower costs and promote soil health through a user-friendly tool.

How to increase pH in soil?

To increase soil pH, ground agricultural limestone is commonly used. The finer the limestone particles, the more effective it becomes. Different soils require different amounts of lime to adjust the pH value, considering factors like soil texture, organic matter content, and plant growth. Homeowners can choose from four types of ground limestone products: pulverized, granular, pelletized, and hydrated. Pulverized lime is finely ground, while granular and pelletized lime are less likely to clog.

Hydrated lime should be used with caution as it has a greater ability to neutralize soil acidity than regular limestone. Lime needs should be determined by a soil test, and soil samples should be taken in the fall for the next year’s garden. If test results indicate a need for limestone, it can be applied in the fall or winter months. For best results, limestone should be applied two to three months prior to planting to allow time for it to neutralize acidity.

Can vinegar test soil pH?

To test soil pH, add ½ cup of white vinegar to a clean container and let it fizz. If it indicates alkalinity, amend with sulfur or pine needles. If it doesn’t, add fresh soil, ½ cup of water, and ½ cup of baking soda. If the soil fizzes, it’s likely acidic. If no reaction, the soil has a neutral pH. If it’s acidic, amend with pulverized lime or wood ash. To make acidic soil more alkaline, add calcium carbonate or dolomite to increase its pH. This method helps maintain a balanced soil composition.

How to check soil test report?

Soil test reports include both macronutrients and micronutrients, with their respective saturations expressed in parts per million (ppm). Nitrogen is tested exclusively in the nitrate (NO3) form, and the total pounds of nitrogen in the soil can be determined by multiplying the ppm number by 0. 3 per inch of soil sample depth. For example, 0. 3 multiplied by 8 equals 2. 4.

How to collect soil sample?

The process involves dividing a field into homogenous units based on visual observation and farmer experience. Surface litter is removed at the sampling spot, and an auger is driven to a plough depth of 15 cm to draw soil samples. At least 10 to 15 samples are collected from each sampling unit and placed in a bucket or tray. If an auger is not available, a ‘V’ shaped cut is made to a depth of 15 cm in the sampling spot.

The samples are mixed thoroughly and removed from foreign materials, and the bulk is reduced to half to one kilogram by quartering or compartmentalization. This process involves dividing the sample into four equal parts, discarding the two opposite quarters, and remixing the remaining two quarters until the desired sample size is obtained. Compartmentalization involves spreading the soil over a clean hard surface and dividing into smaller compartments.

The sample is collected in a clean cloth or polythene bag, labeled with information such as the farmer’s name, location, survey number, previous crop grown, present crop, crop to be grown in the next season, date of collection, and the name of the sampler. The samples are collected starting from the bottom most horizon, mixing and transferring to a polythene or cloth bag.

What is the formula for soil test?

Soil testing involves analyzing extractants containing dissolved plant nutrients to determine their concentration. Results are typically reported as parts per million (ppm) or pounds per acre (lb/acre). For most nutrients, ppm can be converted to lb/acre by multiplying by two. For nitrate, sulfate, and chloride, all nutrient forms present in the soil are extracted, and depth increments are sampled. Soil test values are a relative number and should be interpreted as low, medium, or high for a particular nutrient.

Calibriation and interpretation are crucial in soil testing, as the results of tests must be calibrated against crop responses from applications of the plant nutrients in question. This information is obtained from field and greenhouse fertility experiments conducted over a wide range of soils. Yield responses from rates of applied nutrients can then be related to the quantity of available nutrients in the soil.

Long-term soil test calibration studies on different soil types are used to establish recommended amounts of plant nutrients to apply to a particular crop at a given soil test level. For example, if the soil test P level is in the range of 0-10 ppm, the P recommendation for a 150 bu/acre corn crop may be 100 lb/acre of P₂O₅, while if the soil test P level is above 40 ppm, the recommendation may be 0 to 20 lb/acre.

How do you calculate soil health?

Soil health indicators are often studied through the stability of soil aggregates, which are clusters of sand, silt, and clay particles bound by plant and microbial compounds. A healthier soil generally has good aggregate stability and a more active microbial community. A wet aggregate stability test is used to test the stability of these aggregates. The soil samples are placed in a handmade sieve with a mesh size of 0. 05 mm, and the dry soil is submerged in water for 10 minutes.

If the aggregates are stable, most of them are kept in the colander, allowing only particles smaller than the mesh to pass through. If a significant amount of soil is lost through the mesh, it indicates a higher risk of erosion. An example of soil aggregate stability test is shown in a video comparing bare soil and soil planted with Brachiaria humidicola.

How to check pH in soil?

To determine the pH of your soil, you can use test strips, a pH meter, or send a sample to a university extension lab. The lab will provide accurate results and a detailed report. If you prefer, a simple test using baking soda and vinegar can provide immediate results. An extreme reaction in either direction will indicate whether you need to amend your soil to raise or lower the pH. Most garden soil in North America is slightly acidic, and most plants thrive in this pH range. However, some plants, like lilacs and lavender, prefer alkaline soil, while acid-loving plants like azaleas, camellias, and blueberries prefer alkaline soil.

How to check soil health?

Soil health is crucial for farm operations, as it produces food and performs essential ecosystem services. Dr. Felicity Crotty, a soil scientist at Royal Agricultural University, emphasizes the importance of soil life and its ability to function. Tests such as infiltration, slake, teabag index, visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS), drop shatter test, standard soil test, and Fera Big Soil Community Test can help assess soil health. In the UK, four million hectares are at risk of compaction and two million hectares of erosion, emphasizing the need to consider both above and below the ground.

What are the parameters to measure soil health?

The study evaluated the impact of the duration of conservation agriculture adoption on soil carbon dynamics and system sustainability on 30 villages in the Nilokheri block of Karnal district, Haryana, India. The study measured soil physical, chemical, and biological parameters and applied a Sustainability Index (SI). Soil samples were collected from existing conservation agriculture (CA) and conventional tillage (CT) farms. Villages under CA practices were subdivided into CA3, CA6, and CA9 based on the number of years of CA practice adoption.

Results showed that bulk density (BD) of 0-15 cm soil depth was 7 greater in CA3 plots, while BD values were only 2 and 3 higher than CT in CA6 and CA9. Soil organic carbon (SOC) in 0-15 cm soil depth was found to be 16. 32 in CA3 than CT plots, while SOC was 38. 77 and 61. 22 in CA6 and CA9. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) values of 0-15 cm soil depth were increased over CT by 18. 57, 47. 08, and 71. 5 for CA3, CA6, and CA9, respectively.

In CA plots, the SI of 0-15 cm soil depth ranged between cumulative ratings (CR) of 18-21, indicating that CA practice is “sustainable” for both soil depths. For CT, the CR ranged from 25 to 30 for both soil depths, resulting in a SI of “sustainability with high input”.

The study recommends farmers in the Karnal district to adopt CA practices to increase SOC and move the systems from “sustainable with high input” to “sustainable”.

How to make a soil testing kit?

The Pantry Soil pH Test is a useful tool for determining soil acidity or alkalinity. It involves placing 2 tablespoons of soil in a bowl with ½ cup vinegar and ½ cup baking soda, and if the mixture fizzes, it indicates alkaline soil. If the mixture fizzes, it indicates acidic soil. Soil, along with water and sunlight, determines plant growth and can be tested in spring or fall for a productive season.

A high soil pH can make nutrients like phosphorus and iron less available, while a low pH can be toxic to plants. A healthy soil is essential for a successful garden and reducing the need for excessive fertilization. To test the soil, take a soil sample and send it for testing before adding lime and fertilizers.

What is the soil health card in Nepal?

The government is preparing to issue soil health cards to farmers in Kathmandu, India, to test the soil’s quality, identify crops that can yield maximum yields in specific soil conditions, and recommend appropriate fertilisers for different soil types. The cards will be issued annually, and farmers will be advised on the types of crops that can be grown on their farmlands and the appropriate amount of chemical fertilisers to improve productivity. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Chakra Pani Khanal, stated that farmers will be given advice on the best crops to grow on their farmlands.