Soil testing camp at horticulture show

Farmers hailing from 13 districts of the State were provided an opportunity to get their soils evaluated at a stall that was set up at the Horticulture Show organised by AP Micro Irrigation Project (APMIP) in the city. The camp held by Coromandel group attracted large number of farmers to know about their soil quality and SBZ tests.

At the camp, farmers who grow the largest share of Mangoes, Chilies, ornamental flowers and Vegetables have been taught the importance of the right mix of organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer that helps bring out the most of the soil with good quality. Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) is elaborated at the same time.

Experts said, soil health detection would analyze problems of the soil in boosting growth of the cultivated crop, which can be rectified with the help of nutrients available. Continuous and intensive cultivation of the same crop, indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers will ruin the soil’s quality which therefore loses capacity to produce better quality output.

It is highly recommended that there is a right mix of chemical and organic fertilizers that is to be incorporated. For every bag of chemical fertilizer, three bags of organic fertilizer or manure has to be incorporated to create maximum impact on the soil allowing it to produce more.

Assistant vice president of AP, Telanagana and Odisha, GV Subba Reddy speaking about their initiative said, “Our motive behind the programme of soil testing and SBZ tests is to ensure that if farmers are capable of producing double the quantity than usual, it helps our image by 5 times. Our fertile lands should not go in vain and farmers should learn what kind of soil mix goes well with the cultivated crop.”

He added that China which produced things on par with India earlier is reaping double the productivity using the right balance of nutrients and cultivation methods. China doesn’t have fertile lands like us. Unfortunately, our coastal fertile lands are showing an increase in salinity. It is high time that farmers realise that each soil requires a separate kind of treatment that benefits them. We at Gromor are making sure that they are offered free testing.

T Appa Rao of Reddygudem mandal from the district who won the State award for Organic Farming of Mango variety called ‘Panchadarakalasa’ said, ‘’ I have been using the organic way of growing fruits with right amounts of nutrient supply. It is not easy for a tree like Mango to give more produce within stipulated time but with organic farming techniques, the yield is much better and of better quality.”