The scheme helps farmers to know the nutrient status of their soil along with recommendations on appropriate dosage of nutrients.
Understanding Your Land with Soil Health Card
The Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme was launched to help farmers improve productivity through judicious use of inputs. A Soil Health Card is a printed report that a farmer will be handed over for each of his holdings. It will contain the status of his soil with respect to 12 parameters.
Parameters Tested: - Macro-nutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K). - Secondary-nutrient: Sulphur (S). - Micro-nutrients: Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Boron (B). - Physical parameters: pH, EC, OC (Organic Carbon).
Why it is Important: - Optimized Fertilizer Use: Farmers get recommendations on how much fertilizer to use for specific crops. - Saves Money: Reduces wastage of money on unnecessary fertilizers. - Sustainable Farming: Prevents soil degradation by over-use of chemistry.
How to get a Card: State officials collect soil samples from farmers' fields once every 2 or 3 years. These samples are tested in labs, and the results are issued in the form of a Soil Health Card.
