Indian Farming 67(11): 11–14; November 2017

Soil testing:
a valuable tool for efficient and economic crop production
Mahipal Choudhary1, Tilak Mondal2 and Vijay Singh Meena3
Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora (Uttarakhand) 263 601

Soil testing commonly refers to the analysis of a soil sample to determine nutrient content,
composition, and other characteristics such as the acidity or pH level. A soil test can determine
fertility, or the expected growth potential of the soil which indicates nutrient deficiencies, potential
toxicities from excessive fertility and inhibitions from the presence of non-essential trace elements
in the soil systems. Objective(s) of the soil testing are to determine the available nutrient status
and soil reaction; to appraise the soil fertility status of a country or a state or a district and
prepare soil fertility map which will be useful for various on aspects (delineating, sufficiency and
deficiency areas of nutrients; soil fertility pattern over the periods etc); to prepare a basis for
fertilizer and soil amendments recommendation; and to prepare soil health card (SHCs) for
farmers.

Key words: Azolla, Crop, Production, Soil, Testing

T HE soil testing service was

initiated in India during 1955-
56 with the establishment of 16 soil
Efficient utilization of agricultural
inputs is a major factor in soil testing
to bring sustainable production
without first consulting a physician to
find out what is needed. It is
observed that the fertilizers increase
testing labs under the Indo-US system in agriculture. The farmers yields and the farmers are aware of
operational agreement for involved in such a programme like this. But are they applying right
determination of soil fertility and soil testing will have to application of quantities of the right kind of
fertilizer uses. The programme is Se balanced fertilization to achieve fertilizers at the right time at the
being expanded and at present, there the desired yield levels. However, the right place to ensure maximum
are ~ 600 district/regional soil amounts and kinds of fertilizers profit?. Without the fertilizer
testing lab and mobile labs in the required for the same crop vary from recommendation based upon a soil
country. In Uttarakhand, at present, soil to soil, even field to field on the test, a farmer may be applying too
26 soils testing labs are working for same soil. much of a little needed plant food
soil testing. These soil testing The use of fertilizers without prior element and too little of another
laboratories play a significant role in soil testing is like taking medicine element which is actually the
diagnosing the physical, chemical and
biological properties of the soils by
providing the conditions of available
nutrients which indicates the fertility
and productivity of the soils. The
primary goal of soil testing is to
answer efficient and effective resource
management. Soil testing is the most
accurate way to determine lime and
nutrient needs. Soil testing is also
useful for identifying contaminated
sites. Soil tests measure the relative
nutrient status of soils and are used as
profitable and environmentally
responsible fertilizer application. Fig. 1. An overview of soil testing process from farmer field to laboratory and vice-versa

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Indian Farming
November 2017
 15 cm

Fig. 2a Different equipment useful for the collection of soil samples

Fig. 2b. Draw samples from field in “V” shaped

principal factor limiting plant growth. suitable on hard and dry soil although cut
This not only means an uneconomical post hole auger is useful in the
use of fertilizers, but in some cases excessively wet area. to ~ 500 g by quartering process
crop yields actually may be reduced (Fig. 4)
because of use of the wrong kinds or Collection of soil samples from field Require information in two sheets
amounts, or improper use of Different types of equipments are of thick paper with the sample. One
fertilizers. required (Figs. 2a and 2b) for soil sheet is folded and kept inside the
sampling, (viz. spade, khurpi, auger, bag, another sheet is folded and
Why soil testing is important? sampling bag, tray, scale, marker, attached with the bag.
Sustaining the agricultural pencil, a sheet of thick paper and • Information
production system often requires the polythene sheet). • Name, address and contact number
application of agricultural inputs. The of the farmer (or farm owner)
soil testing enables to find out the Procedure of soil sampling • GPS coordinates with plot number
make up, soil fertility status and soil Decide the soil unit (or plot) and • Availability of irrigation facilities
amendments quantities for mitigation make a traverse over the soil unit and drainage system
of the problematic soils. (Fig. 3). • Upland/Medium land/Lowland
Different components of soil Clean the site (with spade) from • Depth of soil sample (0-15/15-30/
testing are illustrated in Fig. 1. where soil sample is to be collected. 30-45 cm)
Standing on opposite side, a lump • Information of the previous crop-
Soil sampling of soil is removed. name and variety of the crops
The soil sampling is perhaps the A pit of vee (V) shape is formed. • Dose of organic manure and dose
most vital step for analysis. A useful Its depth should be 0-15 or 0-30 cm. of fertilizers, if applied and yield
soil testing service starts with the (i.e. depth of soil). • Information of the crop that will be
collection of representative soil Take out the soil-slice (like bread- grown-name, season (pre kharif/
samples. A fertilizer recommendation slice) of 1.25 cm thick from both the kharif/rabi)
is made after analyzing the soils. The exposed surface of the pit from top to • Problem, if any
importance of taking a representative bottom. This slice is also termed as • Date of sample collection
composite soil sample is, therefore, furrow-slice. To collect the soil-slice • Signature of the farmer (or farm
self-evident. One field can be treated spade may be used. owner)
as a single sampling unit only if it is Collect furrow-slices from 8 to 10 • Chemical analysis
relatively uniform and does not or sometimes 20 to 30 sites. Select Soil analysis is a set of various
exceed ~ 1 ha area. Variations in the sites at random in a zigzag (or chemical processes that not only
slope, colour, texture, management, criss-cross) manner. Distribute the determine the amount of available
and cropping pattern should be taken sites throughout the entire soil unit plant nutrients in the soil, but also
into account and separate composite (plot). the chemical, physical and biological
soil sample adequately representing Reduce the collected bulk soil up soil properties important for plant
the field, small portions of surface
soil should be collected ~ 15 cm soil
depth from at least ten well-
distributed spots in the field, mixed
well, and ~ 500 g of representative
sample sent to laboratory. Proper
sampling tools are essential for
collection of good soil samples.
Spade or khurpi is an appropriate tool
for sampling of soft and moist soil. Fig. 3. Several ways of taking samples: (a) network (b) Z-scheme (c) diagonally in (d)
However, a screw type auger is more permanent crops or standing crops

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Indian Farming
November 2017
 provide appropriate dose of fertilizer
recommendations for applications of
nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium,
gypsum and limestone. Soil testing
also provides details about
micronutrient requirements of crop.
If you apply too little fertilizer, your
crop yields and returns will be lower.
Supply of higher dose of fertilizer will
waste time and money, and risks
Fig. 4. An overview of soil processing, showing (a) collecton of soil sample; (b) spread soil environmental damage due to
sample like a thick layer; (c-e) the quartering process (make four quarters, discard the opposite nutrient runoff. Consequently, soil
ones); (f-g) remixing the remaining two quarters and repeated the process to reduce the testing is a tool which gives to
quantity ~ 500 g; (h-j) attach one label inside or outside the bag indicating above mentioning
information and transfer the remaining (~ 500 g) soil in bag and send to soil testing laboratory;
farmers accurate soil fertility status of
(k) soil processing with 2 mm stainless steel sieve for analysis their farm, so that farmers do better
effort to efficiently utilize inputs such
nutrition, or ‘soil health’. Chemical Table 1. Crop-wise fertilizer recommendations
soil analysis determines soil reaction Crops Fertility Quantity Time of application
(pH), soil salinity (EC), total class (NPK kg ha-1)
CaCO 3, lime requirement, gypsum
N P2 O 5 K2O
requirement, organic matter, and the
Rice, kharif, H 20 15 15 Basal ½ N, full P and K; top
content of basic plant nutrients;
transplanted M 40 20 20 dressing of ½ N at 30-35 DAT
nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P 2O 5), L 50 25 25
potassium (K 2O), humus content, Rice, kharif, short H 40 20 20 Basal ¼ N, full P and K; top
total sulphur (S), trace elements, and duration M 50 25 25 dressing of ½ N at 15 DAT
other physical characteristics L 60 30 30 and ¼ N at 30-35 DAT
(capacity, permeability, density). Rice, kharif, medium H 50 25 25 Basal ¼ N, full P and K; top
and long duration M 60 30 30 dressing of ½ at N at 15 DAT
L 80 40 40 and ¼ N at 40-45 DAT
Interpretation
Rainfed wheat H 40 20 15 Basal ½ N, full P and K; top
Definitely, the greatest challenge in M 60 30 20 dressing of ¼ N at 21 DAS
soil testing is calibration of the tests. L 70 40 30 and ¼ N at 40-45 DAS
It is essential that the results of soil Irrigated wheat H 100 40 30 Basal ½ N, full P and K; top
tests be calibrated against crop M 120 50 40 dressing of ¼ N at 21 DAS
responses from applications of the L 130 60 60 and ¼ N at 40-45 DAS
plant nutrients (Fig. 5). The yield Maize H 60 45 20 Basal ¼ N, P and K; ½ N at
M 80 60 30 knee-high stage, ¼ N at
responses from rates of applied L 100 75 40 tussling stage
nutrients can then be related to the
Soybean H 15 45 15 Basal full N, P and K
quantity of available nutrients in the M 20 60 20
soil. On the basis of long-term field L 25 75 30
experiments (LTFEs), soil test Millets (finger and H 35 15 15 Basal ½ N, P and K; ½ N
calibration studies on different soil barnyard) M 40 20 20 after firstweeding
types are then utilized to establish L 50 30 30
recommended amounts of plant Vegetables H 80 40 40 Basal ½ N, full P and K; top
M 100 50 50 dressing of ¼ N at 25-30 DAT
nutrients to apply to a particular crop L 120 60 60 and ¼ N at 45-55 DAT
at a given soil test level.
DAT, Days after transplanting; DAS, Days after sowing; H, High; M, Medium; H, High rating
of soil test results
Crop-wise fertilizer recommendation
An upward revision in fertilizers categories with rvespect to organic as fertilizers and get benefit as
recommendation is needed in the carbon, vailable macronutrients and economically as manageable and
light of lessons learnt from LTFEs. micronutrients (Tables 2 and 3). increasing agricultural production of
The crop-wise fertilizer Soil test reports will generally their farm.
recommendations equations
developed on the basis of LTFEs for Table 2. Categories of soils with respect to soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC)
different crops under different agro- Soil Categories EC Categories
ecological situations are given in pH (dS m-1)
Table 1. These recommendations of < 5.5 Acid < 1.0 Normal
fertilizer were developed for different 5.5-6.5 Slightly acid 1.0-2.0 Not suitable for germination
soils, different varieties etc. 6.5-7.5 Neutral 2.0-3.0 Critical for growth of salt-sensitive crops
On the basis of soil test results, the 7.5-8.5 Slightly alkali/saline > 3.0 Injurious to most crops
soils are grouped into different > 8.5 Alkali

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November 2017
Table 3. Soil test values for fertility status

Categories Organic Available Available Available Available Available extractable DTPA B Hot water Mo
Carbon N P K 2O S soluble Ammonium
Fe Mn Zn Cu oxalate
extractable
(pH 3.3)
g kg-1 kg ha-1 mg kg-1
High > 7.5 > 550 > 25 > 335 > 35 > 9 > 7 > 1.0 > 0.4 > 2.0 > 0.4
Medium 5.0-7.5 280-550 12.5-25 135-335 22.4-35 4.5-9 3.5-7 0.6-1.0 0.2-0.4 0.5-2.0 0.2-0.4
Low < 5.0 < 280 < 12.5 < 135 < 22.4 < 4.5 < 3.5 < 0.6 < 0.2 < 0.2 < 0.2

SUMMARY
Soil testing is playing an important
role in recommending dose of
fertilizer inputs required in farm of
farmers. From the soil testing,
farmers know status of nutrients
available in soil, so that they are able
to decide future crop patterns as per
their suitability without
indiscriminate use of chemical
fertilizers. With the help of soil
testing, soil-health card is also issued
to every farmer in every three years
for efficient utilization of available
nutrients and fertilizer inputs for
sustaining agriculture production.

1-3
Scientists, Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi
Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora, (Uttarakhand)
263601. Corresponding author email:
[email protected].
Fig. 5. Soil testing is central of soil sampling, analysis, interpretation and fertilizer recommendation

Impact of Research of ICAR-DOGR

Brainstorming on challenges in export of onion and garlic in India
Pune, the Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research, Rajgurunagar, organized a one-day brainstorming session on
“Challenges in Export of Onion and Garlic in India” in collaboration with Indian Society of Alliums (ISE), Pune, National
Horticultural Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF), New Delhi and
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority
(APEDA), New Delhi on September 16, 2017 at this Directorate to address
various issues related to onion and garlic export oriented production, market
research, packaging, forwarding and policy framing among different stakeholders.
Dr A. K. Singh (DDG, Horticultural Science) urged the participants to use
modern information tools for timely application of advance technologies in
production and export of onion and garlic. He emphasized on involvement of
researchers in every step of crop production.
Dr K. E. Lawande (Ex-Vice Chancellor, Dr. BSKKV, Dapoli) mentioned
difficulties in production and export of onion and garlic. He stressed on development of high-yielding varieties and
emphasized on improvement of trading system, pure seed production, IPM technology and market intelligence.
The deliberations were on :
• inclusion of onion in horticultural export basket;
• firm export policies and proper maintenance of demand-supply chain, processing and e-marketing to solve price
fluctuation problem of onion and garlic;
• change from exporting in traditional gulf countries to the European countries; and
• need of stress management in onion and garlic production.
Researchers, farmers, traders, exporter, authorities from APEDA, BARC, State Agriculture Department and Marketing
Board participated in the programme and exchanged their views and experiences.
(Courtsey: Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research, Pune)

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Indian Farming
November 2017