Ground reality

By flagging soil quality depletion as a concern, the ICAR Director-General Trilochan Mohapatra has not spoken a moment too soon. The depletion of organic nutrients in the soil has reached alarming proportions, thanks to indiscriminate use of chemical fertiliser in Green Revolution areas. As against an acceptable level of ‘soil organic carbon’ of well over 5 per cent, soils in Punjab are said to have levels far below 1 per cent. Besides, 5.3 billion tonnes of soil is eroded annually, at a rate of 16.4 tonnes/hectare. The nutrient imbalance has been skewed by the overuse of urea (N) vis-a-vis phosphatic (P in chemical parlance) and potassic (K) fertiliser. As against the recommended use of NPK in the ratio of 4:2:1, the actual use is 6.7:2:4.1. The depletion of soil is being reflected in falling cereal yields in intensely cultivated regions. The granaries of India are trapped in a dangerous vicious cycle of input use, where increased dumping of fertiliser in the wrong combinations has rendered the soil incapable of regenerating itself, which in turn escalates input use. Falling moisture retention abilities also leads to indiscriminate use of groundwater. The Modi government sought to address the imbalance by coming out with its soil health cards scheme in 2015, under which farmers can get their soils tested for NPK contents and get appropriate advise on how to apply these inputs. Over 2.5 crore soil samples are said to have been covered under scheme, of which about two crore have been tested. This scheme marks a slight advance over the nutrient balancing scheme of the last government, under which a reduction in of urea subsidy was expected to trigger a correction in favour of using P and K fertilisers (or di-ammonium phosphate and muriate of potash) — which did not happen. However, a major shortcoming of the soil health card initiative is that it is rooted in the chemical fertiliser framework. It should also suggest introduction of organic inputs.

The ICAR chief should take a look at the focus of research in universities. Rather than evaluate the efficacy of new varieties merely on the basis of their responsiveness to NPK, their responsiveness should be measured against application of organic fertiliser as well. The current strains of rice, wheat, maize, cotton and sugarcane require higher quantities of urea compared with coarse grains, pulses, fruit and vegetables. Mixed cropping should be encouraged both as a hedge against price risk and for its ecological benefits.

India cannot wish away its soil and water crisis. Desertification, or complete depletion of soil nutrients, is occurring rapidly in many parts of India. The pursuit of short-term gains in output, without regard for input-intensity, could prove to be disastrous later.

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