Objective

Tea is the major crop of the Nilgiris district and accounts for 68 per cent of total cultivable area.  It needs  manures and fertilizers in higher quantity.  They are recommendated mainly based on the soil health.  It is measured in terms of soil available nutrient status.  Most of the small growers of this district are not aware with soil sampling and its importance.  Hence, the UPASI-KVK decided to survey the soil status, collaboration with Tea Board, of the entire district of small growers tea field with the following objectives.

a.       To know the soil health in terms of soil fertility status.  

b.      To evolve new strategies for fertilizer recommendation.

c.       To create awareness about the importance of soil health, methods of soil sampling and its practical use among the small growers and

d.      To improve soil health by adopting suitable scientific recommendation.

Methodology adopted

For this, nearly 34 villages were selected from the all 6 taluks as far as it could be representative of the taluk and near by villages or blocks.  Totally 268 soil samples were analysed for soil reaction, electrical conductivity, organic matter and available nutrients like phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium.

Table 1:  Number of villages covered for soil survey:

Results

To bring the soil pH which is desirable for tea growth, liming is recommended.  Liming is advised based on quantity of rainfall, pH level, pruning cycle and yield of the crop.  To enhance the organic matter content of the soil atleast in medium range, addition of farm yard manure, poultry manure, biogas manure, tea waste, various types of enhanced compost, vermicompost, green cake, castor cake is recommended at the rate of 10 t per hectare per year.  Burial of pruning material in situ is also recommended to enhance the organic matter content of the soil.

The application of inorganic fertilizers to the soil is recommended only based on the soil test value and the crop growth and development

Conclusion

Adopting scientific recommendation of manures and fertilizers to the field is essential to obtain higher yield level in small growers field and further in improving their socio - economic condition.

                                   SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT PRODECTION
                                                        On Campus Training