10th Anniversary of Soil Health Card Scheme | 20 Feb 2025

Source: PIB 

Why in News? 

The year 2025 marks the 10^th anniversary of the Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme that was launched on 19th February 2015 at Suratgarh, Rajasthan. 

• It helps in improving soil health and tackling soil degradation.   

What is a Soil Health Card Scheme? 

• About: It is a centrally sponsored scheme to assist state governments in issuing Soil Health Cards (SHCs) to all farmers across India. 
• Objective: It provides farmers with information on the nutrient status of their soil along with recommendations for the appropriate dosage of nutrients to improve soil health and fertility. 
  • Soil samples are collected twice a year, post-harvest of Rabi and Kharif crops or when no standing crop is in the field. 
• Contents of SHC: The SHC provides soil status for 12 parameters, including: 
  • Macronutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Sulphur (S). 
  • Micronutrients: Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Boron (Bo). 
  • Other soil properties: pH (Acidity or Basicity), Electrical Conductivity (EC), and Organic Carbon (OC). 
• Initiatives Under SHC: 
  • Village Level Soil Testing Labs (VLSTLs): VLSTLs are small, decentralized soil testing labs at local level. As of February 2025, 665 VLSTLs have been set up across 17 states. 
  • School Soil Health Programme: It aims to educate students on soil health and sustainability through sample collection, testing, and SHC generation. 
    • As of 2024, the program expanded to 1,020 schools, establishing 1,000 soil testing labs. 
• Integration with RKVY: Since 2022-23, the Soil Health Card Scheme has been merged into Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) as a component under ‘Soil Health & Fertility’. 
  • RKVY (2007) is an umbrella scheme for ensuring holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors. 
• Technological Advancements:  
  • SHC Portal: For uniform generation of SHCs in all major Indian languages and five dialects.  
  • SHC Mobile App: For easy access to Soil Health Cards and streamline sample collection. 
  • GIS Integration: Automatic geo-mapping of soil samples using latitude and longitude so that all the test results are captured and seen on a map. 
• Benefits of SHC:  
  • Improved Yield: The highest increase in yield was recorded for Bengal gram (44%) in Karnataka, followed by wheat (43%) in Karnataka, maize (30%) in Madhya Pradesh, and red gram (22%) in Maharashtra. 
  • Reduction in Fertilisers Use: Significant reduction in fertilizer use e.g.,nitrogen (7%), phosphorus (41%), potassium (27%) has been observed in case of wheat. 
  • Reduction in Pest: Pest and disease incidence reduced by 46%. 
  • Other Benefits: It included improved soil texture (12%), enhanced crop growth (38%), and better grain filling (35%). 

What is the Current Status of Soil Health in India? 

• Unsustainable Agricultural Practices: Intensive farming, with excessive chemicals and monocropping, has caused nutrient depletion and soil acidification.  
  • E.g., lowered organic carbon levels in Punjab and Haryana due to the Green Revolution. 
• Water Mismanagement: Over-extraction and poor irrigation, like flood irrigation, cause soil salinization and waterlogging.  
• By 2050, 50% of arable land may be salt-affected. 
• Overgrazing: Unregulated livestock grazing has led to vegetation loss, making soil vulnerable to erosion, particularly in arid regions like Rajasthan and Gujarat. 
• Shifting Cultivation: The practice of slash-and-burn agriculture causes severe soil degradation by destroying organic matter. 
• Invasive Species: The spread of invasive plant species like Lantana camara depletes soil nutrients and disrupts native biodiversity. 

Way Forward 

• Farmer Education: Only 57% of the farmers whose soils were tested were aware of the SHC scheme.  
  • Training, demos, and workshops by state agricultural universities (SAUs), and krishi vigyan kendras (KVKs) are needed for awareness. 
• Enhancing Soil Testing Infrastructure: There is a need to establish at least one Soil Testing Laboratory (STL) per taluka to improve accessibility and efficiency. 
• Timely Distribution of SHCs: The government must ensure that SHCs are distributed promptly, preferably in hard copy before sowing. 
  • Reduced time lag between soil data collection and distribution of SHC will help farmers apply recommended fertilizer doses in a timely manner. 
  • Installation of Israel’s Plantarray technology can be introduced that can provide real-time soil data using sensors and boosting information about soil profile. 
• Incentives: Incentives and awards for farmers, Gram Panchayats, and officers promoting soil testing can boost participation. 
  • Recognition for green manure, vermicomposting, and organic farming will enhance soil fertility.