Balanced fertilization and soil management boost potato yields by 20 percent in Rajshahi, Photo : BSS

RAJSHAHI, March 9, 2025 (BSS) - Soil test-based as well as balanced fertilization enhances crop yield by at least 20 percent and it has been proven in different crop-cutting ceremonies at farmers' fields during the last couple of days in Rajshahi.

Helal Uddin, 48, a farmer of Soronjai village under Tanore upazila in the district, harvested 97 mounds of potato per bigha of land from his conventional farming system, while 116 mounds from research plot meaning that 20 percent yield rise.

Helal Uddin revealed this while showing his rising yield at a farmers' field day meeting titled "Acidic Soil Management through combined application of dolomite technology" at Soronjai playground on Saturday afternoon.

On behalf of its 'Acidic Soil Management Programme', Soil Resource Development Institutions (SRDI) organized the farmers meeting for motivating and habituating the grassroots farmers towards the liming soil management system.

SRDI Chief Scientific Officer Amir Muhhammad Zahid, Principal Scientific Officer Dr Nurul islam and Upazila Agriculture Officer Saifullah Ahmed addressed the meeting disseminating their expertise on the issue.

Chief Cotton Development Officer Muzadded Al Shameem and Soronjai Union Parishad Chairman Mozammel Haque also spoke.

The experts at the meeting, urged the farmers to become habituated to promotion of balanced fertilisation as it has become indispensable for protecting the soil health and its productivity.

They viewed that soil nutrients have gradually been declining due to disproportionate use of fertilisers and creating a negative impact on the soil productivity. The farmers should take the responsibility of protecting the soil health for the sake of food security.

In his remarks, Dr Nurul Islam said yield of various crops, particularly wheat, potato, pulse, mustard and vegetables, can be inclined to at least 15-40 percent if dolomite is used on the excessive acidic soil.

He said lesser use of organic matter and little or no use of leguminous green manure and biofertilizers have also been detected as the degradable factors.

However, soil test based as well as balanced fertilization has become indispensable to maintain soil properties positive to growth of plants, he said.