To refrain farmers from using excessive chemical fertilizers, Agriculture Department Barnala making the farmers aware about the requirement of fertilizers by issuing soil health cards after testing soil and water samples of their respective farms. The farmers were also being benefitted as they were getting soil test based recommendations for the use of fertilizers to improve soil fertility to help in cutting input costs.A farmer of village Thikriwal Mandeep Singh, after getting soil test report, said, “I was using 25 Kg DAP and 20 Kg Zinc Sulfate per acre every year but after getting the soil tested, I came to know that there is no need of both fertilizers in my fields. After getting the report, I have decided to stop the use of both chemicals which would save Rs. 1,500 per acre.”He added that he will also appeal other farmers to stop using fertilizers without any recommendations as it was only wastage of money and other resources.Another farmer of Rajia village, Baljinder Singh, said that he has also got the test report of soil of his farm and will surely reduce the amount of fertilizers being used by him for various crops.
The excessive use of fertilizers not only costs us dearer, it also destabilizes fertility of land along with damage to the atmosphere,” he added.Deputy Commissioner Barnala Mr. Dharam Pal Gupta also appealed the farmers to get maximum benefit of free soil health cards and refrain themselves from using unnecessary chemicals in their farms. He also urged to farmers to plant saplings to make the atmosphere green and pollution free.Meanwhile, Chief Agricultural Officer Barnala Mr. Rachpal Singh Khosa said that the testing of water and soil was being conducted free of cost and the reports were also being illustrated to the farmers to make them aware of the use of balanced fertilizers.Dr. Sarabjit Singh, incharge soil test lab, said that as per their reports, there was no need to use Phosphorus in 97 percent of agricultural land in Barnala district. He added that subsequently, Potash, Copper and Sulfur in 99 percent and Manganese in 94 percent farms was available in sufficient amount. He also appealed the farmers to not to use DAP before transplantation of paddy as it was only wastage of resources. He also advised farmers to use only 25 Kg urea per acre in minimum water only in the evening to improve paddy yield.