Photo: Collected
Acidic soil management as per the land and soil resources application direction can be the crucial means of boosting crop yield by protecting soil health in the region, particularly the vast Barind tract.
Soil management with liming and organic matter has become the demand of time for boosting crop yield by 25 percent on an average in the high Barind area because most of its lands have turned into acidic at present hampering crop production badly.
As a whole, acid soils are a major agricultural constraint for crop production due to its detrimental effect on soil fertility and productivity.
Soil health experts and scientists made the observation while addressing the inaugural session of a two-day training workshop for sub-assistant agriculture officers here today (31 Aug 2024).
Rajshahi divisional office of Soil Resource Development Institution (SRDI) organized the training at the office conference hall of the Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
Prof Zahir Uddin from the Faculty of Agriculture at Bangladesh Agricultural University, SRDI Chief Scientific Officer Manjurul Haque, DAE Additional Director Mahmudul Faruque, and SRDI Director Dr Begum Samia Sultana addressed the session as resource persons disseminating their expertise on the issue.
During his keynote presentation, Dr. Nurul Islam, principal scientific officer of SRDI, said liming and organic fertilization has been found effective in boosting cropping yield by protecting soil health in the high Barind area.
Organic matter creates a positive soil environment from which plants can uptake nutrients from applied chemical fertilizers.
It increases the uptake of applied chemical fertilizers by the plants which contributes to increasing crop productivity through reducing the toxic flow of active chemical fertilizers to the environment.
Dr Islam also said soil organic matter is a key factor in maintaining long-term soil fertility since it is the reservoir of metabolic energy, which drives soil biological processes involved in nutrient availability.
He defined that organic matter supplies plant nutrients increases the water-holding capacity of the soil, and reduces the residual negative effect of fertilizers and pesticides. It makes the crops more tolerant to diseases, and insects and also prevents soil erosion.
It is also the energy source for soil microorganisms, which are the primary agents that enhance the decomposition and release of minerals in the soil system.
As a whole, soil environment is very important for plant growth and soil pH is the most important indicator of soil environment.
Prof Zahir Jalal Uddin said substantial and sustainable uses of required organic fertilizers in the farming fields are very important for boosting its health and productivity which is imperative for feeding the country's gradually rising population.
Plant and animal waste-based fertilizer has a vital role in protecting the soil nutrients which are being declined due to various natural and man-made catastrophes.
There is no alternative to protect the soil nutrients from further declining trends amidst the adverse impact of climate change.
He urged the participating sub-assistant agriculture officers to make the best use of their knowledge acquired from the training in their practical fields properly so that other grassroots farmers can derive the total benefits of the updated soil resource guide.
In his remarks, Mahmudul Fasruque opined that climate change may affect soil health by lowering soil organic matters like nitrogen and phosphorus levels, decreasing soil moisture holding capacity, disturbing soil pH balance, and effective soil calcium carbonate.
He, however, said organic matter supplies plant nutrients, increases the water-holding capacity of soil, and reduces the residual negative effects of fertilizers and pesticides.
Source: Online/GFMM
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