BSS, Rajshahi :
Uses of organic and compost fertilizer in the farming can protect the soil nutrients and enhance productivity.
Plant and animal waste based fertilizer has a vital role in protecting the soil nutrients being declined due to repeated crop farming, soil scientists and agriculture researchers suggest this while talking to BSS here.
Besides, massive cultivation of high yielding and hybrid varieties of crops and vegetables, disproportionate use of chemical fertilizers and harmful pesticides for repeated crop harvesting is behind the damage of soil nutrients.
They observed that less use of organic matter and little or no use of leguminous green manure and bio- fertilizers remain as the degrading factors.
Mahabubur Rahman, Scientific Officer of Regional Laboratory of Soil
Resource Development Institute, said soil test based balanced fertilization can overcome the crisis through restoring plant nutrient in the soil. Quoting his research findings he said depletion of soil organic matter aggravate soil fertility and the soil degradation decline crop productivity.
He mentioned that optimum level of organic matter is a must to grow and maintain positive soil properties and supports plant growth. Sufficient organic matters create positive soil where plants can take necessary nutrients from soil. Chemical fertilizers act as the storehouse of nutrient elements and produce all plant nutrient elements.
Mahabubur Rahman said organic matter improves the chemical and physical properties as binding agent and enhances a favorable air- water status of soil from which plant and micro-organisms can take air, water and nutrient elements.
Organic elements enhance microbial activity by serving as energy source and the microbiological transformations like nitrogen and sulfur
mineralization side by side improving properties including the water and nutrient holding capacity.
“Input and output balance of plant nutrient elements should be equal for maintaining the nutrient status of the soil,” said Rafiqul Islam, Project Director (Agriculture) of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority.
He said if the present practices of indiscriminate and disproportionate uses of chemical fertilizers and harmful pesticides prolong, it can cause permanent yield decline and soil degradation.
He said appropriate measures should be taken to sustain the soil
productivity and underscored the need for popularizing the integrated plant nutrient system among the farmers for soil test based fertilization.
Dr Ilias Hossain, Principal Scientific Officer of Regional Wheat
Research Center, said emphasis should be given on motivating the farmers towards adopting soil test base use of fertilization recommended by local laboratory. Soil fertility management can optimize nutrient input.
He said farmers’ knowledge should be upgraded on how to prepare compost heap, collect soil sample from field and send to laboratory for chemical analysis and preparation of fertilizer. So they need proper training in every cropping season.
“We should ensure that all the farmers would apply soil test based
fertilization to build up, maintain and restore the soil properties and use abundant organic materials to the soil,” Dr Israil added.
