RAJSHAHI, June 2, 2024 (BSS) - Soil management with liming and organic matter can be the crucial means 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 scientists and researchers made the observation while addressing the opening session of a two-day long training of sub-assistant agriculture officers and promising farmers on application guidelines of upazila land and soil resource here today.

On behalf of its 'Acidic Soil Management Programme', Soil Resource Development Institutions (SRDI) organized the training at the conference hall of the Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).

The programme of 'Acidic soil management and sustainable crop production & improvement of soil fertility by practicing climate smart agriculture in the Rajshahi & Rangpur Division including and Madhupur Tract' supported the training.

SRDI Director General Jalal Uddin addressed the inaugural session as chief guest, while Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) Dr Anisur Rahman and DAE Deputy Director Umme Salma spoke as special guests with CSO AFM Monjurul Haque in the chair.

SRDI Principal Scientific Officer Dr Nurul Islam welcomed the participants.

During his keynote presentation Dr Nurul Islam 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, Umme Salam 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.