‘Soil analysis to help improve fertility’
Agricultural experts on Saturday advised farmers to get their soil samples analysed from laboratories set up at the district level, as it will enable them to prepare the land for obtaining a higher yield.
In a statement issued by media liaison unit of Punjab agriculture department, the experts said that soil analysis could unveil necessary information like salinity, crop access to nitrogen, micronutrients including potash, zinc, boron, presence of organic material, PH value of soil and availability of gypsum.
This useful information can help farmers apply only the needed quantity of fertilizers and micronutrients and adopt proper measures to get good production results, they said.
The experts said the farmers should collect samples from different parts of the fields and then mix them to get a compound sample.
Read Researcher to produce first-ever healing bandage
They said that cotton farmers should dig up to 30cm and collect five to 25 samples from a field and then mix all of them to get a compound sample. This compound sample, upon analysis, can give average fertility of the land.
Farmers should first prepare a map of the field showing all details prominently. Samples should be collected from spaces away from the roads, trees, heaps of fertilizers and houses.
After getting the samples analysed, farmers should consult agriculture officials and follow their guidelines to get good production, the experts said.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 25th, 2021.