Page 6 - index

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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION
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AND
lfpo ,oa egkfuns'kd INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
TRILOCHAN MOHAPATRA, Ph.D.
KRISHI BHAVAN, NEW DELHI 110 001
FNA, FNASc, FNAAS
Tel.: 23382629; 23386711 Fax: 91-11-23384773
SECRETARY & DIRECTOR GENERAL
E-mail: dg.icar@nic.in
Foreword

With the recognition of the fragility of natural resources, public interest in soil health is
increasing throughout the world. The health of Indian soils got deteriorated over the years,
as evident by depletion of organic matter levels, biological degradation, enhanced soil
compaction, higher magnitude of soil erosion and ever-widening multi-nutrient
deficiencies. Majority of soils have very low organic carbon (<0.5%) content. Widespread
deficiencies of N, P, K, S, Zn and B in the soils have been documented. The use efficiencies of applied
nutrients, particularly those of N (30-50%), P (15-20%) and micronutrients (2-5%) continue to be extremely
low. An unhealthy soil will not be able to perform different soil functions, and will cease to support high crop
productivity. Any yield gain achieved on such soil owing to varietal or other interventions, except judicious
soil management would not only be temporary but encourage further depletion of OC and native nutrient
reserves. The physical and biological environment of a low fertility soil, that supports low yields, is often
unhealthy because of lesser recycling of below-ground root mass.
The problem of nutrient depletion, and consequently low productivity coupled with low nutrient use
efficiency is spectacular across the soil types and agro-climatic zones. In adequate nutrient replenishment,
far below the crop removal is a major cause of soil fertility decline, although indiscriminate fertilizer use
(especially N use) in some intensively cropped areas is also equally responsible. In both the situations, major
fall out is over-mining of native secondary and micronutrient reserves as their application is often neglected.
Rampant deficiencies of these nutrients (S 28.9%, Zn 36.5%, B 24.2%, Fe 12.8%, Mn 7.1% and Cu 4.2%)
recorded across the country have led to severe losses in yield and nutritional quality of produce. Research
evidences suggested that need-based inclusion of secondary and micronutrients in the fertilizer schedules
would not only eliminate their deficiencies in soil but also enhance the efficiency of macronutrient
fertilizers. With the Government initiative to distribute soil health cards (SHCs) to all farm holdings in a
given time frame, soil health issues have come to the centre stage with emphasis on effective monitoring of
soil health and soil test-based nutrient application.
It is a matter of great pleasure that on the initiative of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the
scientists of AICRP on Micro and Secondary Nutrients and Pollutant Elements have prepared for the first
time an Atlas of Micronutrients providing taluka –wise status and deficiencies of six nutrients (S, Zn, Fe,
Mn, Cu and B) of agricultural interest. The e-publication also offers management options and solutions
available to alleviate micronutrient deficiencies.This e-book will be highly useful to researchers, students,
policy makers, farmers and other stakeholders including agriculture extension personnel and fertilizer
industry. I am confident that the Atlas brought out by Dr. Arvind K. Shukla and his team will be a milestone in
ensuring site-specific and precise nutrient management, thus reducing the cost of production and
maximizing farm income.
I congratulate Dr. Arvind Kumar Shukla and his team for this endeavour, and wish all success of the e-Atlas.

(Trilochan Mohapatra)