Dr. Anandkumar Naorem is the Head (I/C), Scientist (Soil Sciences) at ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, RRS-Bhuj, Gujarat.
Dr. Anandkumar Naorem says soil is one of the most important natural resources, that needs to be conserved and maintained. It is the foundation of plant growth and thus maintaining its quality and health is one of the crucial activities in agriculture. Soil provides essential nutrients to the plants, thus improving its growth and productivity. A well maintained soil has a significant influence on crop yield and productivity. Soil testing allows the farmer to understand their soils and can act accordingly. Soil testing let us know the amount of available nutrients and this helps in calculating the amount of fertilizers needed to apply, thus reducing over-use of fertilizers. It reflects the demand of the crop.
During this meeting Dr. Anandkumar Naorem will highlight how we can collect soil samples before sending to soil laboratory. He will also discuss what does soil test report mean and its interpretations.