SOIL SCIENCEC A ANITHA

SOIL CONSERVATION OFFICERIWDM-K

CHADAYAMANGALAM

Soil pollutionDeposition of solid wasteAccumulation of non-biodegradable materialsToxification of chemicals into poisonsAlteration of soil chemical composition

Unhealthy soil management methods

Improper irrigation practices

CAUSES

Improper tillage Non-maintenance of a proper supply of

organic matter in the soil Irregular maintenance of a proper nutrient

supply of trace elements Improper maintenance of the correct soil

acidity

Unhealthy soil management

Heavy metal pollutionCr, Pb,Cd,Cs, As Chemical pesticides,fungicides,weedicides Excessive lime application

Soil pollution also by

Poorly drained soil result in salt deposits leading to high soil salinity

Unirrigated land giving rise to stagnation of agriculture waste products

Irregular irrigation leads to decreasing moisturization of land

Improper irrigation practices

May alter plant metabolism and reduce crop yields

Trees and plants may absorb soil contaminants and pass them up the food chain

Soil Pollution Effects on Trees and Plants

1. Use of pesticides should be minimized.2. Use of fertilizers should be judicious.3. Cropping techniques should be improved to prevent growth of weeds.4. Special pits should be selected for dumping wastes.5. Controlled grazing and forest management.6. Wind breaks and wind shield in areas exposed to wind erosion7. Planning of soil binding grasses along banks and slopes prone to rapid erosion. 8. Afforestation and reforestation.

Agriculture measures to Control of Soil Pollution

SOIL QUALITYthe capacity of a specific kind of soil to function with its surroundings, sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain or enhance soil, water and air quality and support human health and habitation

Electrical Conductivity Soil Nitrate Soil Reaction (pH) more...

Chemical indicators 

Aggregate Stability Available Water Capcity Bulk Density Infiltration Slaking Soil Crusts Soil Structure and Macropores more...

Physical indicators 

Earthworms Organic Matter Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen Respiration Soil Enzymes Total Organic Carbon more...

Biological indicators 

The Microlevel Information System on Soils of Kerala(MISSK) is a web based project developed in GIS Platform by the Department of Soil Survey & Soil Conservation under the technical guidance of the ESRI India . 

Detailed Soil Survey conducted at panchayat level using cadastral maps of scale 1:5000/4000 as base map.

Microlevel Information System on Soils of Kerala(MISSK)

Generation of soil information system Generation of soil and other thematic maps

in GIS platform enable the users to access all information

on soils on survey number basis through internet

To help the farmers to manage their land Enabling the planners, administrators and

researchers to formulate micro level plans

Objectives of MISSK

The Department of Soil Survey & Soil Conservation provides Soil Health Management Support Service to farmers by providing Soil Health Cards to individual farmers on per plot basis.

Soil Health Cards evaluate the health or quality of a soil as a function of its various physico-chemical characteristics like available macro and micro nutrients, water holding capacity, CEC, soil texture, content of exchangeable bases, exchangeable acidity, soil pH, EC and organic carbon content.

SOIL HEALTH MANAGEMENT

The soil health card evaluates the health or quality of a soil as a function of its characteristics, water, plant and other biological properties. The card is a tool to help the farmer to monitor and improve soil health based on their own field experience and working knowledge of their soils.

SOIL HEALTH CARD

Soil Series Soil texture Soil Depth Erosion status Slope Present land use Paddy land conversion status Soil pH, Status of major nutrients nitrogen,phosphorus,potassium >>secondary nutrients- calcium, magnesium, sulphur >>micronutrients- iron copper,zinc, manganese, boron Land capability class Land irrigability class Soil conservation priority Crop suitability

Informations delivered

Samples are collected on per plot basis Collection of information on land

characteristics The results of the soil analysis is

communicated to the farmers in the form of soil health cards.

Issue of soil health cards

• Page1: Location map of panchayat • Page 2: Elevation, Slope, Erosion, Drainage, Ground

water depth, Present Land Use, Crops Management level, Soil texture, Soil depth

• Page 3: Soil pH, Electrical conductivity, Presence of Hard Pan, Water Holding capacity, Organic Carbon %, Available Phosphorous, Available Potash

• Page 4: Production Potential, Secondary nutrient status, (Sulphur and Magnesium), Micronutrient Status (Zinc, Iron, Boron, Copper, Manganese), Major soil limitations

• Page 5: Organic and Inorganic Nutrient and Fertilizer recommendations, lime recommendation

• Page 6: General crop management recommendations

Page wise contents

I t is a multi institutional project initiated by the Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Kerala. The soil nutrient management information system has been conceptualized, designed, developed and implemented by Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management- Kerala (I I ITM-K) for the Government of Kerala.

Quality of irrigation water

Total salt concentration

Sodium Adsorption ratio Boron content

Quality of irrigation is judged with three parameters:

Salt concentration of irrigation water is measured as electrical conductivity (EC).

Total salt concentration

ClassEC

(ds/m)Quality

characterisationSoils for which suitable

C1C2C3

C4C5

<1.51.5 – 33 – 5

5 – 10> 10

Normal watersLow salinity watersMedium salinity waters

Saline watersHigh salinity waters

All soilsLight and medium textured soilsLight and medium textured soils for semi – tolerant cropsLight and medium textured soils for tolerant cropsNot suitable

Sodium Adsorption ratio (SAR) residual sodium carbonate (RSC)

Sodium Adsorption ratio

Class Boron (ppm) Characterisation Soils suitable

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5

3 3 – 4 4 – 5 5 – 10 > 10

Normal waters Low boron waters Medium boron waters Boron waters High boron waters

All soils Clay soils and medium textured soils Heavy textured soils Heavy textured soils Not suitable

Boron content