Coimbatore: "Soil health is an integral part of sustainable agriculture. Though, external factors like climate change, chemicals along with a range of predicted global change drivers such as CO, N deposition, temperature and rainfall, attribute to deteriotation of Soil health, it is the responsibility of every individual to contribute to soil health", said Dr. P. Murugesa Boopathi, Former Vice-Chancellor, TNAU at the eighth memorial lecture of Dr.B.Ramamoorthy held here on December 12.
Coimbatore: "Soil health is an integral part of sustainable agriculture. Though, external factors like climate change, chemicals along with a range of predicted global change drivers such as CO, N deposition, temperature and rainfall, attribute to deteriotation of Soil health, it is the responsibility of every individual to contribute to soil health", said Dr. P. Murugesa Boopathi, Former Vice-Chancellor, TNAU at the eighth memorial lecture of Dr.B.Ramamoorthy held here on December 12.
"In developing countries like India, risk of desertification and land degradation are increasing due to rising temperatures, enhanced warming, increased aridity and burgeoning population. Appropriate nutrient management practices should be followed for increasing the productivity under extreme climatic variables", he said.
He stated that enhancing soil organic matter, judicious application of fertilizers and improved agronomic management practices are a few strategies which would help in overcoming the risks associated with the impact of climate change on soil health. The application of soil-test-based fertilizer doses supplies nutrients to the crop in proportion to the magnitude of deficiency of a particular nutrient aiding in the achievement of greater response ratio and benefit-cost ratio.
He recalled the Inductive cum Targeted Yield model developed by Dr. Ramamoorthy et al. (1967) which provides a scientific basis for balanced fertilisation and balance between applied nutrients and soil available nutrients.
Dr. Murugesa Bhoopathi also briefed on Decision Support System for Integrated Fertiliser Recommendation (DSSIFER) used for all the Soil Testing Laboratories run by various organizations, private entrepreneurs, scientists, research scholars, progressive farmers for prescribing fertilizer doses and soil and water quality management technologies.
The eighth memorial lecture dedicated to Dr. B. Ramamoorthy was organized by the Department of Soil Science, Agricultural Chemistry and Coimbatore Chapter of Indian Society of Soil Science, Directorate of Natural Resource Management.
Dr. N. Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, TNAU, Coimbatore presided over the function. The gathering of Scientists and Students was welcomed by Dr.P. Malarvizhi, Professor and Head, Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, TNAU and President, Indian Society of Soil Science, Coimbatore Chapter.
In her welcome address, she pointed out that this is the eighth series of lectures dedicated in memory of late Dr.B.Ramamoorthy, one of the stalwarts of the 20th century in Soil research. Dr.B.Ramamoorthy has evolved the inductive cum targeted yield concept suited to our Indian soils and climatic conditions.
Dr. R. Santhi, Director, Directorate of Natural Resource Management, TNAU, recalled the contribution of Dr. Murugesa Boopathi in developing "The Decision Support System for Integrated Fertiliser Recommendation" (DSSIFER) and Soil Health Card.
Dr. N. Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, TNAU, Coimbatore in his presidential address pointed out the extent of increasing land degradation. He expressed his concern about declining organic carbon content of the soils. "Over 600 million people are at risk due to the impact of climate change in India and if land degradation is not addressed the problem could get more acute. Soil degradation and its impact on the environment are the major challenges before the Soil Scientists which is to be addressed systematically", he opined.
The Vice Chancellor briefed the work of the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry in protecting the soil health by creating awareness on soil health through various projects.
He also mentioned about the World Soil day celebrations which was followed by a mega rally on December 5 by the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry for creating awareness on Soil health.
He also threw light on the works of Dr. B.Ramamoorthy who laid the foundation for the initiation of All India Coordinated Project on Soil Test Crop Response (AICRP — STCR) in 1967. AICRP - STCR, Coimbatore which is the lead centre at national level.
"Over the years, Scientists of TNAU, Coimbatore have contributed tremendously in terms of development and validation of STCR-IPNS based fertilizer prescriptions for 31 crops and 10 cropping sequences on 17 soil series in six agro-climatic zones of Tamil Nadu. The fertilizer prescription equations are included in the Crop Production Guide of Agriculture and Horticulture -2019", the VC apprised.
"In developing countries like India, risk of desertification and land degradation are increasing due to rising temperatures, enhanced warming, increased aridity and burgeoning population. Appropriate nutrient management practices should be followed for increasing the productivity under extreme climatic variables", he said.
He stated that enhancing soil organic matter, judicious application of fertilizers and improved agronomic management practices are a few strategies which would help in overcoming the risks associated with the impact of climate change on soil health. The application of soil-test-based fertilizer doses supplies nutrients to the crop in proportion to the magnitude of deficiency of a particular nutrient aiding in the achievement of greater response ratio and benefit-cost ratio.
He recalled the Inductive cum Targeted Yield model developed by Dr. Ramamoorthy et al. (1967) which provides a scientific basis for balanced fertilisation and balance between applied nutrients and soil available nutrients.
Dr. Murugesa Bhoopathi also briefed on Decision Support System for Integrated Fertiliser Recommendation (DSSIFER) used for all the Soil Testing Laboratories run by various organizations, private entrepreneurs, scientists, research scholars, progressive farmers for prescribing fertilizer doses and soil and water quality management technologies.
The eighth memorial lecture dedicated to Dr. B. Ramamoorthy was organized by the Department of Soil Science, Agricultural Chemistry and Coimbatore Chapter of Indian Society of Soil Science, Directorate of Natural Resource Management.
Dr. N. Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, TNAU, Coimbatore presided over the function. The gathering of Scientists and Students was welcomed by Dr.P. Malarvizhi, Professor and Head, Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, TNAU and President, Indian Society of Soil Science, Coimbatore Chapter.
In her welcome address, she pointed out that this is the eighth series of lectures dedicated in memory of late Dr.B.Ramamoorthy, one of the stalwarts of the 20th century in Soil research. Dr.B.Ramamoorthy has evolved the inductive cum targeted yield concept suited to our Indian soils and climatic conditions.
Dr. R. Santhi, Director, Directorate of Natural Resource Management, TNAU, recalled the contribution of Dr. Murugesa Boopathi in developing "The Decision Support System for Integrated Fertiliser Recommendation" (DSSIFER) and Soil Health Card.
Dr. N. Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, TNAU, Coimbatore in his presidential address pointed out the extent of increasing land degradation. He expressed his concern about declining organic carbon content of the soils. "Over 600 million people are at risk due to the impact of climate change in India and if land degradation is not addressed the problem could get more acute. Soil degradation and its impact on the environment are the major challenges before the Soil Scientists which is to be addressed systematically", he opined.
The Vice Chancellor briefed the work of the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry in protecting the soil health by creating awareness on soil health through various projects.
He also mentioned about the World Soil day celebrations which was followed by a mega rally on December 5 by the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry for creating awareness on Soil health.
He also threw light on the works of Dr. B.Ramamoorthy who laid the foundation for the initiation of All India Coordinated Project on Soil Test Crop Response (AICRP — STCR) in 1967. AICRP - STCR, Coimbatore which is the lead centre at national level.
"Over the years, Scientists of TNAU, Coimbatore have contributed tremendously in terms of development and validation of STCR-IPNS based fertilizer prescriptions for 31 crops and 10 cropping sequences on 17 soil series in six agro-climatic zones of Tamil Nadu. The fertilizer prescription equations are included in the Crop Production Guide of Agriculture and Horticulture -2019", the VC apprised.