SOIL TESTING LABORATORY Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry
Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi-834006
1.0: Profile
The prestigious department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry came into being
in 1955 as an integral part and founder department of Ranchi Agriculture College, under Ranchi
University. Later this College came under the administrative control of Rajendra Agricultural
University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar from 3rd
December, 1970. In June, 1981 Birsa Agricultural
University came into existence
Soil testing service in India began in 1955-56 with the soil testing laboratory at IARI as the hub
to coordinate with all the other soil testing laboratories in the country. This laboratory act as
Nodal Soil Testing Laboratory for Soil and Plant Analysis is well known among research and
extension agencies, and farmers for its advanced facilities, reliability of analysis, and an efficient
advisory service.
2.0: Why soil testing is done?
A – To estimate available nutrients in soil.
B – To evaluate fertility status of soil.
C – To recommendation exact amount of fertilizers for crop.
D – To determine soil problems (acidity, alkalinity).
E – To check soil pollution status.
F – To prepare soil fertility maps.
3.0: Objectives of Soil Testing
To estimate the physical properties and available nutrient status (macro, secondary and
micro-nutrients) of soils.
To provide soil test based recommendations to farmers for improving soil fertility and
economic return to farmers.
To facilitate and promote use of soil amendments for reclamation of acidic/alkaline soils
for improving their fertility and crop productivity.
To facilitate and promote Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through judicious use
of chemical fertilizers, including secondary and micro nutrients along with organic
manures and bio-fertilizers, for improving soil health and its productivity.
To promote use of micro nutrients for improving crop productivity.
To upgrade the skill and knowledge of STL/Extension staff and farmers and their
capacity building through training and demonstration including demonstration on farmers
fields regarding benefits of balanced use of fertilizers.
Creation of data bank for balanced use of fertilizers, which is site specific.
Preparation of digital district soil maps (using Global Positioning System) and soil
fertility monitoring system.
4.0: Facilities available
The laboratory has the capacity of testing around 10,000 samples in a year. The target for testing
of NPK only is 80% of the total sample and for micronutrients it will be 20 % of the total
sample.
The Laboratory has advanced analytical facilities including ICP-MS , Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometer (AAS), Spectrophotometer, Flame Photometer, N-Analyzer etc. The
Laboratory offers soil, plant, and irrigation water analysis services to the farmers and other
clients. A regular Advanced Level Training on different aspects of Soil Plant Analysis and
Water Quality Assessment is going on for the scientific and technical personnel associated with
soil testing.
5.0: Elements to be Analyzed
While carrying out the complete analysis of soil, following categories of elements are normally
determined:
1. N, P, K (Major nutrients)
2. Ca, Mg, S (Secondary nutrients)
3. Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn and B(Micro nutrients)
4. Heavy metals like Pb and Ni
Besides these nutrients soil are also analyzed for following properties.
1. pH
2. Electrical Conductivity
3. Organic carbon
6.0: Services offered :
Soil and plant testing for macro and micronutrients.
Irrigation water quality assessment.
Manure analysis for total nutrient content for research purpose only.
Soil and plant analysis for heavy metals and pollutant elements.
Advisory on balanced fertilizer use.
Advisory on management of problem soils.
7.0: Soil Testing Charge : 1. N, P, K (Major nutrients) @ Rs 100 per parameter per sample
2. Ca, Mg, S (Secondary nutrients) @ Rs 200 per parameter per sample
3. Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn and B(Micro nutrients) @ Rs 200 per parameter per sample
4. Heavy metals like Pb, Ni etc. @ Rs 200 per parameter per sample
Besides these nutrients soil are also analyzed for following properties
1. pH @ Rs 100 per sample
2. Electrical Conductivity @ Rs 100 per sample
3. Organic carbon @ Rs 100 per sample
Note : Soil Sample received from Farmers will be tested FREE OF COST
8.0: Equipments available The equipment‟s available in the laboratory are mentioned below:
1. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS)
2. Spectrophotometer
3. Flame Photometer
4. Conductivity Meter
5. pH Meter
6. Shaking Apparatus
7. Electronic Balance
8. Analytical Balance/Top Loading Balance
9. Drying Oven
10. Computer with appropriate software
11. GPS System with Mobile Phone
12. Standby Generator/On line UPS
9.0: Project in Operations
S.
N.
Name of Project Year of
Operation
Collaboration Sponsored by
1. Assessment & Mapping of
Some Important Soil Parameters
including Soil Acidity for the
state of Jharkhand (1:50,000
scale) towards Rational Land
Use Plan
2005-06
Deptt. of SSAC,
BAU, Ranchi &
NBSS & LUP,
Kolkatta
Deptt. of
Agriculture & Cane
Development, Govt.
of Jharkhand
2. Soil Nutrient Mapping at Block 2009-10 Deptt. of SSAC, Deptt. of
Level for Dumka, Jamtara,
Ramgarh & Hazaribag District
under RKVY Project
to
2012-13
BAU, Ranchi &
NBSS & LUP,
Kolkatta
Agriculture & Cane
Development, Govt.
of Jharkhand
3. Strengthening of Analytical
facilities for Soil Testing (ICP
with Accessories)
2009-10
Deptt. of SSAC,
BAU, Ranchi
Deptt. of
Agriculture & Cane
Development, Govt.
of Jharkhand
4. Strengthening of the existing
Soil Testing Laboratory of BAU
2015-16 Deptt. of SSAC,
BAU, Ranchi
Deptt. of
Agriculture & Cane
Development, Govt.
of Jharkhand
10.0: Soil Testing Services & Revenue generation
Year Soil samples received Soil sample
analyzed
Revenue generated
(In Rs.)
2000-01 3692 3692 -
2001-02 3675 3675 -
2002-03 4782 4782 -
2003-04 5432 5432 -
2004-05 7715 7715 -
2005-06 5942 5942 -
2006-07 3832 3832 -
2007-08 5199 5199 -
2008-09 6024 6024 -
2009-10 7809 7809 1809000=00
2010-11 10544 5455 1265150=00
2011-12 8326 8326 -
2012-13 9081 9081 825000=00
2013-14 4853 4853 -
2014-15 3307 3307 -
2015-16 2538 2538 194400=00
2016-17 3856 3856 260804=00
Total 96607 96607 4354354=00
11.0: Awareness Programmes for Farmers/Extension Personnel S.
N.
Year Programme Title No. of
Program
Venue Nos. of
Farmers
participate
d
1. 2006-07 Training Programme on Sustainable
Soil, Water and Plant Nutrition
Management for Rainfed Cropping
System under ICAR NAE
Programme
12 12 KVKs of
Jharkhand
598
2. 2007-08 Training Programme on Sustainable
Soil, Water and Plant Nutrition
Management for Rainfed Cropping
System under ICAR NAE
Programme
22 20 KVKs & 2
ATMAs of
Jharkhand
1256
3. 2009-10 Soil, Water, Nutrient, Insect & Pest
Management in Rainfed Farming
System under ICAR NAE
Programme
20 20 KVKs of
Jharkhand
1126
4. 2009-10 Soil, Water, Nutrient, Insect & Pest
Management in Rainfed Farming
System under ICAR NAE
Programme
02 2 ATMAs of
Jharkhand
120
5. 2010-11 Soil, Water , Nutrient & Integrated
Pest Management in Rainfed Farming
System under ICAR NAE
Programme
20 20 KVKs of
Jharkhand
1300
6. 2010-11 Soil, Water , Nutrient & Integrated
Pest Management in Rainfed Farming
System under ICAR NAE
Programme
04 2 ATMAs & 2
DAOs of
Jharkhand
300
7. 2012-13
FS on Long Term Fertilizer
Management at Gumla, Lohardaga &
W. singhbhum District during Kharif
under AICRP on ICAR Project
02 Gumla,
Lohardaga &
W. Singhbhum
District
100
8. 2012-13
Kisan Goshti on effect of Long Term
Use of fertilizer & Manure during
Rabi under AICRP on ICAR Project
01 Gumla,
Lohardaga &
W. Singhbhum
District
32
9. 2013-14 FS on Long Term Fertilizer
Management during Kharif under
AICRP on ICAR Project
03 Gumla,
Lohardaga &
W. Singhbhum
District
150
10. 2013-14 Kisan Goshti on effect of Long Term
Use of fertilizer & Manure during
Rabi under AICRP on ICAR Project
03 Gumla,
Lohardaga &
W. Singhbhum
District
160
11. 2013-14 Field days on Soil Test Crop
Response under STCR , ICAR
Project
03 E. Singhbhum,
Gumla &
Koderma
Districts
164
12. 2013-14 Kisan gosthi on Importance of Soil
testing for sustainable Crop
Production under STCR , ICAR
Project
06 E. Singhbhum,
Gumla &
Koderma
Districts
300
13. 2013-14 Training on Impact of Micronutrient
on crops under Micronutrient , ICAR
Project
02 Palkot, Gumla 100
14. 2014-15 FS on Long Term Fertilizer
Management during Kharif under
AICRP on ICAR Project
04 Gumla,
Lohardaga &
W. Singhbhum
District
229
15. 2014-15 Training on Impct of Micronutrient
on Plant & Human Contumn under
Micronutrient , ICAR Project
01 Palkot, Gumla 79
16. 2015-16 Kisan Ghosthi on Long Term
Management of Fertilizer for
Sustainable Farming under AICRP on
ICAR Project
03 Gumla,
Lohardaga &
W. Singhbhum
District
150
17. 2015-16 Interpretation of Soil Test Result and
Calculation of Fertilizer Requirement
under STCR , ICAR Project
01 Lohardaga
district
73
18. 2015-16 Importance of Soil Test to Sustain
Crop Production under STCR , ICAR
Project
01 Khunti district 56
19. 2015-16 Soil Sampling and Analysis for
Available Plant Nutrient under STCR
, ICAR Project
01 Ranchi district 106
20. 2015-16 Cropping system based Nutrient
Management/Balance Nutrition/
Crop Quality under STCR , ICAR
Project
01 Ranchi district 87
21. 2015-16 Training on role of Micronutrient in
soil, Plant & human Health under
Micronutrient , ICAR Project
02 Palkot, Gumla 108
22. 2010-11 Practical Oriented Training
Programme on “Soil Sampling and
Analysis of Available Plant Nutrient
under NPMSF Project of Govt. of
India for State STLs & FQCLs
01 Dept. of SSAC,
BAU, Ranchi
20
Personnel from 1st to 2
nd Feb., 2010.
23. 2010-11 Practical Oriented Training
Programme on “Soil test for
Secondary and Micronutrient” under
NPMSF Project of Govt. of India for
State STLs & FQCLs Personnel from
3rd
to 4th
Feb., 2010
01 Dept. of SSAC,
BAU, Ranchi
20
24. 2010-11 Practical Oriented Training
Programme on “ Interpretation of
Soil Test Result & Calculation of
Fertilizer Requirement under NPMSF
Project of Govt. of India for State
STLs & FQCLs Personnel from 5th
to 6th
Feb., 2010
01 Dept. of SSAC,
BAU, Ranchi
20
25. 2010-11 Practical Oriented Training
Programme on “ Cropping System
based Nutrient Management/ Balance
Nutrition/Crop Quality under
NPMSF Project of Govt. of India for
State STLs & FQCLs Personnel from
7th
to 8th
Feb., 2010
01 Dept. of SSAC,
BAU, Ranchi
20
26. 2011-12 Seven days Practical oriented training
programme on “Analytical Methods
for Soil Testing” under NPMSF
Project of Govt. of India for KVK
Scientist from 30th
Jan. To 5th
Feb.,2012.
01 Dept. of SSAC,
BAU, Ranchi
12
27. 2014-15 Practical training programme on „Soil
Testing‟
01 Dept. of SSAC,
BAU,Ranchi
10
Total
122 6696
For District level Soil Map visit link : https://sameti.org/default1_soilmap.htm
For further details, please contact:
Dr. D. K. Sahi
Chairman
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural
Chemistry
Birsa Agricultural University,
Kanke, Ranchi – 834 006, Jharkhand
Phone: 065-2450621
Email : [email protected]
Dr. B. K. Agarwal
Professor Incharge
Soi Testing Laboratory
Birsa Agricultural University,
Kanke, Ranchi – 834 006, Jharkhand
Phone: 065-2450621
Email : [email protected]