Soil Health Card Scheme

The Soil Health Card Scheme seeks to help farmers understand the condition of their soil and apply fertilisers according to crop needs. Through soil testing, it identifies nutrient deficiencies and other soil characteristics, then provides crop-wise nutrient recommendations to promote balanced fertilisation, improve soil health and avoid unnecessary expenditure on inputs.

What soil testing measures

Launched in 2015, the scheme uses laboratory analysis of soil samples to prepare a Soil Health Card. The card reports 12 parameters, covering nutrients and important indicators of soil condition.

• The nutrient tests cover nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, along with sulphur, which is a secondary nutrient.
• The micronutrients assessed are zinc, iron, copper, manganese and boron.
• The other indicators are pH, electrical conductivity and organic carbon: these help assess soil reaction, soluble salt levels and organic carbon status, respectively.

How test results guide nutrient application

The card translates laboratory findings into practical advice on the fertiliser doses needed for crops. Its purpose is not simply to increase fertiliser use, but to match nutrient application to the soil's condition and crop requirements.

• Identifying nutrient deficiencies helps farmers supply nutrients that may otherwise limit crop growth.
• Recommendations support balanced fertilisation, rather than excessive dependence on one nutrient or fertiliser.
• Where required, the card also provides advice on soil amendments to help address soil problems.
• Testing gives farmers a scientific basis for nutrient management instead of relying only on customary application practices.

What the scheme seeks to achieve

The central objective is to improve soil fertility and farm productivity through informed nutrient management. Better targeting of inputs is intended to support both farm incomes and the long-term productive capacity of agricultural land.

• Applying nutrients in appropriate quantities can improve the efficiency with which crops use fertilisers.
• Avoiding unnecessary application can reduce cultivation costs, while correcting deficiencies can improve crop performance.
• More judicious fertiliser use can reduce nutrient losses and associated environmental harm.
• The card is an advisory tool: testing alone does not improve soil, so benefits depend on farmers understanding and implementing suitable recommendations.