RAJSHAHI, Aug 31, 2024 (BSS) - Acidic soil management as per the land and
soil resources application direction can be the crucial means of boosting
crop yield through protecting soil health in the region, particularly the
vast Barind tract.

Soil management with liming and organic matter has become the demand of time
for 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.
 
As a whole, acid soils are a major agricultural constraint for crop
production due to its detrimental effect to soil fertility and productivity.
 
Soil health experts and scientists made the observation while addressing the
inaugural session of a two-day training workshop for sub-assistant
agriculture officers here today.

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

Prof Zahir Uddin from the Faculty of Agriculture in Bangladesh Agricultural
University, SRDI Chief Scientific Officer Manjurul Haque, DAE Additional
Director Mahmudul Faruque and SRDI Director Dr Begum Samia Sultana addressed
the session as resource persons disseminating their expertise on the issue.

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.
 
Prof Zahir 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.
 
He urged the participating sub-assistant agriculture officers to make the
best use of their knowledge to be acquired from the training in their
practical fields properly so that other grassroots farmers can derive total
benefits of the updated soil resource guide.
 
In his remarks, Mahmudul Fasruque 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.
 
He, however, said organic matter supplies plant nutrients, increases water
holding capacity of soil and reduces residual negative effects of fertilizers
and pesticides.