NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN

The State Planning Board initiated a project on “Soil Based Plant Nutrient Management Plan for Agro-Ecosystems of Kerala” in 2010, for the Department of Agriculture. Around 2 lakhs soil samples were collected from individual farmer’s fields covering all the local bodies in the State and analysed for soil reaction (pH), major nutrients (organic carbon, available phosphorus and available potassium), secondary nutrients (calcium, magnesium and sulphur) and micro nutrients (iron, manganese, copper, zinc and boron). In general, the soils of Kerala are adequate in iron and manganese. Recommendations for these elements are not given in the Packages of Practices of the Kerala Agricultural University and therefore not included in the nutrient management plans

PREPARATION OF NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN

Soil analysis results of each panchayat were interpreted based on soil fertility classes/critical levels as suggested by the Kerala Agricultural University and frequency distribution of pH classes, organic carbon, available phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc and boron was worked out for compiling NMP
The nutrient management plan developed for the panchayat will help to initiate programs with thrust on integrated plant nutrient management system which is the key to sustainability in agricultural production and maintenance of soil health
NMP gives only the general soil fertility status of the panchayat and site-specific fertilizer recommendation based on analysis of soil sample from individual field is more beneficial and economical