Soil Health Card Scheme

A program of the Government of India known as the Soil Health Card Scheme (SHCS) is promoted by the Department of Agriculture & Co-operation within the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. All-State and Union Territory Governments’ Departments of Agriculture are in charge of carrying it out. The soil health card (SHC) program was launched by the government of agriculture on December 5th, 2015.

All farmers in the nation will receive SHC at intervals of three years, allowing them to apply prescribed fertilizer doses based on the results of soil tests and achieve enhanced and sustained soil health and fertility, reduced costs, and increased profits. An SHC is designed to provide each farmer with the soil nutrient status of his or her holding and provide advice on the amount of fertilizer and other soil amendments that are required to be applied in order to sustain soil health over the long term.

A field-specific detailed report on the soil fertility status and other significant soil characteristics that influence crop productivity is called a “soil health card.” It is a report related to 12 nutrients: pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon (OC), Potassium (K), Sulphur (S), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Boron (B), and Copper (Cu) of farm holdings.

Objectives of the Soil Health Card Scheme:

To increase knowledge regarding soil analysis.
To allow farmers access to soil testing facilities right at their homes.
Creating opportunities for younger people in relevant areas.
To increase farmers’ revenue and soil quality.

Features of the Soil Health Card Scheme:

In general, soil samples are collected twice a year, either when there is no standing crop in the field or after the harvest of the Rabi and Kharif crops, respectively.
The soil health card will be issued to a farmer once every three years.
All regions of the nation will be covered by the program.
The employees of the state government’s department of agriculture or that of a contracted organization will be employed to gather samples.
The farmers will receive a report with all the information about the soil of their specific farm in the form of a soil health card.

Benefits of the Soil Health Card Scheme:

Finding alternatives for supplies has also benefited farmers.
It has aided in the creation of specific programs like government-subsidized micronutrients.
After receiving SHC, farmers reduced their usage of N, P, and K, particularly nitrogen, and increased their use of micronutrients, which helped them boost fertility.
It has aided farmers in diversifying away from more input-intensive crops like cotton and rice and toward less input-intensive ones.
Farmers can increase productivity by using SHC to improve the condition of their soil.
As many farmers as possible will be covered by the program, according to the government.

Issues Related to the Soil Health Card Scheme:

Many farmers are unable to understand the information, making it impossible for them to implement the suggested procedures.
Some significant indications, such as crop history, water availability (soil moisture), slope, depth, color, bulk density, and microbiological activity, are not included.
Lack of equipment for soil testing.
Only soil color is listed among physical and biological characteristics in the soil health card, which is primarily focused on chemical nutrient indicators.
Although necessary, SHC lacks microbial activity and moisture retention activity.
Agriculture extension agents and farmers lack coordination.
The quantity of soil samples per unit area is not dependent on the variability of the soil.

Moving Forward with the Soil Health Card Scheme:

Before the growing season, SHC distribution and awareness programs must be designed to encourage farmers to use the suggested fertilizers and crop selection.
For soil management and monitoring the standard of care provided by various authorities, a professional group is required at both state levels.
By using a clear approach (systematic and scientific analysis of soil and water), as well as adopting appropriate doses, it is necessary to experimentally communicate the benefits of SHC in each area.