The document discusses soil health management in Kerala. It notes that soil health cards are provided to farmers to evaluate soil quality based on physical, chemical and biological characteristics. The cards are intended to help farmers monitor soil health and make informed management decisions. They provide information on soil type, nutrients, pH, and recommendations to improve soil quality. The overall goal is to support sustainable land management and increase agricultural productivity.

1. C A ANITHA
SOIL CONSERVATION OFFICER
IWDM-K CHADAYAMANGALAM

2. Deposition of solid
waste
Accumulation of non-
biodegradable
materials
Toxification of
chemicals into
poisons

3. Unhealthy soil
management methods
Improper irrigation
practices

4.  Improper tillage
 Non-maintenance of a proper supply of
organic matter in the soil
 Irregular maintenance of a proper nutrient
supply of trace elements
 Improper maintenance of the correct soil
acidity

5.  Heavy metal pollution
 Cr, Pb,Cd,Cs, As
 Chemical pesticides,fungicides,weedicides
 Excessive lime application

6.  Poorly drained soil result in salt deposits
leading to high soil salinity
 Unirrigated land giving rise to stagnation of
agriculture waste products
 Irregular irrigation leads to decreasing
moisturization of land

7.  May alter plant metabolism and reduce crop
yields
 Trees and plants may absorb soil
contaminants and pass them up the food
chain

8. 1. Use of pesticides should be minimized.
2. Use of fertilizers should be judicious.
3. Cropping techniques should be improved to
prevent growth of weeds.
4. Special pits should be selected for dumping
wastes.
5. Controlled grazing and forest management.
6. Wind breaks and wind shield in areas exposed to
wind erosion
7. Planning of soil binding grasses along banks and
slopes prone to rapid erosion.
8. Afforestation and reforestation.

9. the capacity of a specific kind of soil to function with its
surroundings, sustain plant and animal productivity,
maintain or enhance soil, water and air quality and
support human health and habitation

10.  Electrical Conductivity
 Soil Nitrate
 Soil Reaction (pH)
 more...

11.  Aggregate Stability
 Available Water Capcity
 Bulk Density
 Infiltration
 Slaking
 Soil Crusts
 Soil Structure and Macropores
 more...

12.  Earthworms
 Organic Matter
 Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen
 Respiration
 Soil Enzymes
 Total Organic Carbon
 more...

14.  The Microlevel Information System on Soils
of Kerala(MISSK) is a web based project
developed in GIS Platform by the
Department of Soil Survey & Soil
Conservation under the technical guidance
of the ESRI India .
Detailed Soil Survey conducted at panchayat
level using cadastral maps of scale
1:5000/4000 as base map.

15.  Generation of soil information system
 Generation of soil and other thematic maps in
GIS platform
 enable the users to access all information on
soils on survey number basis through
internet
 To help the farmers to manage their land
 Enabling the planners, administrators and
researchers to formulate micro level plans

16. The Department of Soil Survey & Soil Conservation provides Soil
Health Management Support Service to farmers by providing
Soil Health Cards to individual farmers on per plot basis.
Soil Health Cards evaluate the health or quality of a soil as a
function of its various physico-chemical characteristics like
available macro and micro nutrients, water holding capacity,
CEC, soil texture, content of exchangeable bases,
exchangeable acidity, soil pH, EC and organic carbon content.

17.  The soil health card evaluates the health or
quality of a soil as a function of its
characteristics, water, plant and other
biological properties. The card is a tool to
help the farmer to monitor and improve soil
health based on their own field experience
and working knowledge of their soils.

18.  Soil Series
 Soil texture
 Soil Depth
 Erosion status
 Slope
 Present land use
 Paddy land conversion status
 Soil pH,
 Status of major nutrients
nitrogen,phosphorus,potassium
 >>secondary nutrients- calcium, magnesium,
sulphur
 >>micronutrients- iron copper,zinc, manganese,
boron
 Land capability class
 Land irrigability class
 Soil conservation priority

19.  Samples are collected on per plot basis
 Collection of information on land
characteristics
 The results of the soil analysis is
communicated to the farmers in the form of
soil health cards.

20.  • Page1: Location map of panchayat
 • Page 2: Elevation, Slope, Erosion, Drainage, Ground
water depth, Present Land Use, Crops Management level,
Soil texture, Soil depth
 • Page 3: Soil pH, Electrical conductivity, Presence of
Hard Pan, Water Holding capacity, Organic Carbon %,
Available Phosphorous, Available Potash
 • Page 4: Production Potential, Secondary nutrient
status, (Sulphur and Magnesium), Micronutrient Status
(Zinc, Iron, Boron, Copper, Manganese), Major soil
limitations
 • Page 5: Organic and Inorganic Nutrient and Fertilizer
recommendations, lime recommendation
 • Page 6: General crop management recommendations

23. It is a multi institutional project initiated by the Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Kerala. The
soil nutrient management information system has been conceptualized, designed, developed and
implemented by Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management- Kerala (IIITM-K) for
the Government of Kerala.

25. Total salt
concentration
Sodium
Adsorption ratio
Boron content

26.  Salt concentration of irrigation water is
measured as electrical conductivity (EC).
Class
EC
(ds/m)
Quality
characterisation
Soils for which suitable
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
<1.5
1.5 – 3
3 – 5
5 – 10
> 10
Normal waters
Low salinity waters
Medium salinity waters
Saline waters
High salinity waters
All soils
Light and medium textured soils
Light and medium textured soils for semi –
tolerant crops
Light and medium textured soils for tolerant
crops
Not suitable

27.  Sodium Adsorption ratio (SAR)
 residual sodium carbonate (RSC)

28. Class
Boron
(ppm)
Characterisation Soils suitable
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
3
3 – 4
4 – 5
5 – 10
> 10
Normal waters
Low boron waters
Medium boron waters
Boron waters
High boron waters
All soils
Clay soils and medium textured soils
Heavy textured soils
Heavy textured soils
Not suitable