Soil health protection for upholding productivity stressed

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RAJSHAHI, Dec 5, 2017 (BSS)- Scientists and researchers here at a post- rally discussion today stressed the need for protecting soil health for upholding crop production to ensure food security of the country.

They viewed that the soil productivity has gradually been declining due to indiscriminate using of chemical fertilisers and pesticides round the year.

On the contrary, they said using organic fertiliser could be the effective means of protecting the soil health.

Regional office of Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) organized the discussion at its office conference hall to mark the World Soil Day-2017. ‘Caring for the Planet Starts from the Ground’ was the main theme of the day.

Principal Scientific Officer of Fruit Research Station Dr Alim Uddin addressed the discussion as chief guest with SRDI Senior Scientific Officer Dr Ayub Ur Rahman in the chair.

Assistant Director of Department of Livestock Services Ismail Haque, Principal Scientific Officer of Lakkha Research Centre Dr Mukhlesur Rahman and SRDI Senior Scientific Officer Nurul Islam also spoke.

Quoting various field-level research findings, Dr Ayub Ur Rahman said soil nutrients have gradually been declining because of multifarious reasons creating a negative impact on the soil productivity.

The soil scientist viewed disproportionate use of chemical fertilizers and harmful pesticides for cultivation of high yielding varieties of different crops and vegetables is mainly blamed for continued decline in soil nutrients.

“Organic matter requirement is at least 2.5 per cent in a normal soil, whereas the content in the area was found less than 1.3 per cent and even less than one per cent in some soils,” he revealed.