RAJSHAHI, March 10, 2024 (BSS) - Soil management with liming and organic matter can be the best ways of boosting crop yield by 25 percent on an average in the high Barind area because most of its lands have turned into acidic at present hampering crop production badly.

Acid soils are a major agricultural constraint for crop production due to its detrimental effect to soil fertility and productivity.

Soil health experts came up with the observation while addressing a seminar titled "Acidic Soil Management" here today.

Rajshahi divisional office of Soil Resource Development Institution (SRDI) organized the seminar at the office conference hall of Deputy Director of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).  

Agricultural extension and research officials and other stakeholders joined the seminar and some of them took part in its open discussion putting forward a set of recommendations on the issue.  

SRDI Director General Jalal Uddin addressed the meeting as chief guest, while Directors Dr Samira Sultana and Dr Abdur Rouf spoke as special guests with Chief Scientific Officer Monzurul Haque in the chair.

During his keynote presentation Dr Nurul Islam, Principal Scientific Officer of SRDI, said liming and organic fertilization has been found effective towards boosting cropping yield through protecting soil health in the high Barind area.

Organic matter creates a positive soil environment from which plants can uptake nutrients from applied chemical fertilizers.

It increases uptake of applied chemical fertilizers by the plants which contributes to increasing crop productivity through reducing toxic flow of active chemical fertilizers to the environment.

Dr Islam also said soil organic matter is a key factor in maintaining long-term soil fertility since it is the reservoir of metabolic energy, which drives soil biological processes involved in nutrient availability.

He defined that organic matter supplies plant nutrients, increases water holding capacity of soil, reduces residual negative effect of fertilizers and pesticides. It makes the crops more tolerant to diseases, insects and also prevents soil erosion.

It is also the energy source for soil microorganisms, which are the primary agents that enhance the decomposition and release of minerals in the soil system.

As a whole, soil environment is very important for plant growth and soil pH is the most important indicator of soil environment.

Chief guest Jalal Uddin said substantial and sustainable uses of required organic fertilizers in the farming fields are very important for boosting its health and productivity which is imperative for feeding the country's gradually rising population.

Plant and animal waste-based fertiliser has a vital role towards protecting the soil nutrients which are being declined due to various natural and man-made catastrophes.

There is no alternative to protect the soil nutrients from further declining trends amidst the adverse impact of climate change.

The chief guest urged the participants to make the best use of the knowledge acquired from the seminar in their practical fields properly so that other grassroots farmers can derive total benefits of the updated soil resource guide.

In her remarks, Dr Samira Sultana opined that climate change may affect soil health through lowering soil organic matters like nitrogen and phosphorus levels, decreasing soil moisture holding capacity, disturbing soil pH balance and effective soil calcium carbonate.

She, however, said organic matter supplies plant nutrients, increases water holding capacity of soil and reduces residual negative effects of fertilizers and pesticides.