GIS Techniques for Developing Soil Health Cards (SHCs)

Transcription

1 GIS Techniques for Developing Soil Health Cards (SHCs) 4.1 Introduction R.P. Sharma, S. Chattaraj, A. Daripa, R. Naitam, D. Vasu and S.K. Singh GIS technique is precise, time efficient and cost effective to develop Soil Health Cards (SHCs) and fertilizer recommendations for large number of farmers. The information could also be stored and retrieved for monitoring soil health in future. It involves collection of soil samples one each in 10 and 2.5 hectare area for rainfed and irrigated, respectively, sample processing and laboratory analysis for macro and micro-nutrients. Development of database in GIS and generation of soil nutrient status map using area specific interpolation technique, is the subsequent step. The attaching cadastral maps with soil nutrient map followed by extraction of farm/farmer wise nutrient status for developing fertilizer recommendation is the final step in the process. 4.2 Testing the Technology For testing the technology, a network of grid points at a distance of 325m x 325m for a part of Kelapur block of Yawatmal, district Maharashtra and Piparakothi block of East Champaran district, Bihar has been developed and transferred on the base map of 1:10000 scale (Fig. 4.1 and 4.2). Samples with co-ordinate points on the map were collected through GPS. Subsequently, the soil samples were processed and analyzed for available major (N, P, K), micro-nutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu) and sulphur. Soil reaction (ph), organic carbon and salinity (EC) were also determined. Soil test values were defined in terms of low, medium and high based on the ratings suggested by Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh, Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola (Table 4.1). Database was developed in MS-Excel format and used for generating soil nutrient maps using Geo-statistical interpolation technique (Krigging) (Fig. 4.3). Further, the said map was attached with the cadastral map. For clarity, interpolated soil organic carbon map attached with cadastral information as shown in fig Status map for other nutrients was also developed (Fig. 4.5 and 4.6) in the similar manner. Plot wise/ farmer wise soil information was extracted in GIS environment (Table 4.2). Finally, the information was used for developing soil health cards and fertilizer recommendations (Fig. 4.7 to 4.8). Fig Sampling scheme for Kelapur block, Yawatmal district, Maharashtra state Fig Sampling scheme for Piprakothi block, East Champaran district, Bihar state e-publication : ICAR-NBSS&LUP Technologies 1

2 Table 4.1. Soil fertility rating used for Kelapur block, Yavatmal district, Maharashtra state Soil test Very Low Medium Slightly High Very High Low High Organic C (%) >1.00 Available N (kg ha-1) >700 Olsen P (kg ha-1) >80 Available K (kg ha-1) >360 Av. sulphur (ppm) - < > Soil test (ppm) Deficient Marginal Sufficient Iron < >7.5 Manganese < >4.0 Zinc < >1.2 Copper < >0.5 Fig Krigged layer of Organic carbon, Gajwel Mandal, Medak district, Telangana state Fig Organic carbon map, Gajwel Mandal, Medak district, Telangana state Fig Soil reaction (ph) map of Goa state Fig Available phosphorus map of Kelapur block, Yavatmal district, Maharashtra state e-publication : ICAR-NBSS&LUP Technologies 2

3 Table 4.2. Plot wise / farmer wise soil database for Gajwel Mandal, Medak district, Telangana state e-publication : ICAR-NBSS&LUP Technologies 3

4 -, -,,,,......, : BR/ECH/PIP/SUR/ : ph EC (ds/m) OC (%) N) () (P 2O 5) () (K 2O) () (S) (ppm) (Zn) (ppm) _1 9 (B) ppm) (Fe) (ppm) 3.98 Dag No. - (GPS) "N, E 11 (Mn) (ppm) (Cu) ppm) 1.13 NPK 1 (S) 2 Zn) 3 B) 4 Fe) q/ha) 1 ( ) Mn) 6 (Cu) 3 ( ) 56 4 ( ) t/ha Azospirillum sp. + phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) Fig Soil health Card of Kelapur block, Yawatmal district, Maharashtra state Fig Soil health Card of Piprakothi block, East Champaran district, Bihar state 4.3 Cost of Soil Health Card In Kelapur block, total 5000 SHC could be developed by actual soil testing. After interpolation, famers were benefited. Similarly by analyzing 1700 samples in Piprakothi, about SHCs could be distributed among the farmers. By applying simple arithmetic, it is noted that SHCs worth Rs. 54 lakhs (29000 x Rs.190/) could be distributed by spending only Rs. 9.5 lakhs (5000x Rs.190) in Kelapur block. The exercise further revealed that SHCs worth Rs lakhs (24000x Rs.190) could be prepared and sent for distribution among the farmers of Piprakothi, Bihar by spending only Rs lakhs (1700x Rs.190). Considering the average figure of Kelapur taluka, the cost of developing one SHC is about Rs 32.0 by using GIS technique. The cost of soil health card is further reduced with increasing number of farmers / holding using them in a given village or block. Further extrapolating the figure of Kelapur block, the target of Govt. of India to distribute SHCs for 14 crore farmers in the country in the cycle of three years could be achieved by spending one sixth of the allocated fund. The cost is further reduced accounting the figures calculated for Piprakothi block of Bihar. Thus the technology has the potentiality to offer substantial contribution directly in the national GDP. 4.4 Up scaling of the Technology In view of the technology being widely applicable and cost effective, the state governments of Telangana and Goa have shown their keen interest in the SHC programme using GIS technique. On their request, 1.5 lakh SHCs were prepared for three Mandals namely Gajwel, Medak district, Thimajipeth, Mehboobnagar district and Indervelle, Adilabad district of Telangana (Fig. 4.9) and in all twelve developmental blocks of Goa state (Fig. 4.10). On similar lines, SHCs were developed for Nagpur block, Nagpur district of Maharashtra (Fig. 4.11). Hon ble Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India distributed soil health cards to the farmers in Piprakothi block, East Champaran district, Bihar and Hon ble Chief Minister of Goa distributed Soil health cards to the farmers of Goa (Fig. 4.14) e-publication : ICAR-NBSS&LUP Technologies 4

5 Fig Specimen Soil health card Telangana state Fig Specimen Soil health card Goa state Fig Specimen Soil health card Nagpur taluka, Maharashtra state Fig Hon ble Union Minister of Agriculture Shri Radha Mohan Singh distributing soil health cards to the farmers of Piprakothi block, East Champaran district, Bihar state Fig Hon ble Chief Minister of Goa Shri Manohar Parrikar distributing soil health cards to the farmers of Goa state e-publication : ICAR-NBSS&LUP Technologies 5

6 4.5 Capacity Building of NARS: ICAR sponsored short course training on Analytical tools and techniques for development of soil health cards (SHC) and its interpretation was imparted to the employees of ICAR and SAUs to replicate the techniques in their respective regions (Fig. 4.14) Summary Fig Capacity building for developing SHCs Thus the GIS technique is quick, accurate, cost effective and simple and has the potentiality to supply soil health cards accurately and precisely to the farmers and other stakeholders in a given timeframe. e-publication : ICAR-NBSS&LUP Technologies 6