RAJSHAHI: Speakers at a discussion underscored the need for collective efforts of all authorities concerned for substantial and sustainable promotion of soil and fertiliser management technology for protecting the soil productivity from further degradation, reports BSS. They mentioned that fertiliser is a key input in crop production and its appropriate use can return optimal yields and higher profits to the farmer. Conversely, inappropriate use leads not only to lower productivity but also the deterioration of soil health. The supply and availability of quality fertilizer on the farmer’s doorstep, coupled with its balanced usage and application, is a critical issue in sustaining crop productivity, they added.
The observations came at a daylong seminar styled “Aspects of Soil and Fertilizer Management Technology” held at a community centre yesterday.  Fertiliser Management Division of Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) organised the seminar focusing on role of fertilizer to crop production and existing fertilizer distribution system. During his keynote presentation, Nur Muhammad Mondal, joint director of BADC, said soil fertility in the region has gradually been decreasing with intensified crop production, high-yielding crop varieties and an over-dependency on chemical inputs.
During the last couple of decades, food grain production as considerably increased due to substantial intensification of cropping, introduction of high yielding varieties and expansion of irrigated area and use of chemical fertilisers.
However, this has also led to widespread soil fertility depletion caused by fertiliser nutrient imbalance and serious nutrient gap between plant use and fertilizer application and mining out scarce native soil nutrients to support increases in yields of food crops.
He said optimum level of organic matter is a must for building and maintaining positive soil properties and normal soil ecosystem that supports plant growth.
It is also imperative for creating a positive soil environment from which plants can uptake nutrients from applied chemical fertilizers as it acts as the storehouse of nutrient elements and produce all plant nutrient elements both macro and micro in environmental way. He said improved soil health will ultimately lead to sustainable growth in output and increased yields and lower production costs and so increased profitability.