Food production has to double - without

using more water, more fertilisers and

more land, by 2050, if there is to be
enough to feed the world. The answer is
improved soil fertility.

purpose

To make awareness among the farmers,

researchers, planners and administrators
regarding use of balanced fertilization
according
to
soil
test
based
recommendation and integrated nutrient
management for higher and sustainable
crop production.

Soil fertility maps are integral components of all

major land evaluation and land use planning
endeavors

Soil and land resource inventory reports

Soil survey reports
Watershed reports
Fertility assessment studies etc
Exclusive soil information systems for
consultancy services
_ Enviornmental reports
_ Industrial purposes
(feasibility Assessments)

Steps involved in the preparation of soil

fertility maps
Soil sample
collection

Soil analysis

Fertility maps

Cartographic Sciences
Remote sensing
Remote sensing

Photogrammetry
Photogrammetry

Cartography

GIS - Geographic information

GIS - Geographic information
system
system

Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

GPS
.

A surveying method that uses a set of 24

satellites in geostationary position high above the
Earth.

Specially designed GPS receivers, when

positioned at a point on Earth, can measure the
distance from that point to three or more orbiting
satellites.

The coordinates of the point are

determined through the geometric calculations of
triangulation. GPS provides accurate geodetic data
for any point on the Earth.

Aerial photographs
Aerial photographs are pictures taken by an
aerial camera fitted into a plane flying
under certain specific conditions of flight.
Single lens vertical photographs, which are
taken in a series of independent
overlapping exposures, are ideal for soil
resource inventory.
They have a
convenient size for field survey and map
construction, give excellent detail of
ground features and permit stereoscopic
study.

Vertical photos

Oblique photos

Remote sensing

A method of viewing and acquiring

information with out any physical contact
through EMR on the Earth's surface from an
airplane, balloon, or satellite (or, for the ocean
floor, from a vessel).

The principal technologies used to collect data

remotely through electromagnetic radiation (EMR), radar,
and sonar in digital form. The data are later processed
into images.

Spatial
resolution

Geo eye

GIS
A computer-based information system designed to handle georeferenced data.
GIS is used to capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, display
and output a full range of geographical data.
Output can be in many forms: either as tables, graphics, or maps.

Selection of sampling locations

A. Before field: When large areas are of concern
assisted with Imageries, topo sheets photogrammetry,
cadastral maps and interpretation with GIS

m
a
S

l
p
e

l
p
m
a

Cadastral sheet (scale 1: 5000)

Sampling strategies for fertility

assessment and mapping
no

Study area

strategy

GPS

GIS

RS

Districts, states (wide

geogr. areas covered}

Random
sampling

yes

yes

yes

Village/ panchayat/
watersheds

Grid/zig zag

yes

yes

yes

Fertility assessment of
problem areas

Intensive
sampling

yes

yes

Not
necessary

Indls / groups

Localised

Yes/no Yes/n
o

Not
necessary

Selection of sampling locations

B. At field : Surveyors judgment
1, when sufficient previous data not available
2, Small areas are mapped
3, when pre-selection is not necessary

Steps involved in the preparation of soil

fertility maps
A.

Soil sample collection

Systematic and scientific soil sampling

Soil sampling procedure- rules

The accuracy and utility of a soil test
result is influenced by the laboratory
analysis but may be influenced even
more by the quality and precision of the
soil sampling.

A Good Soil Sample Should Be

Representative of the Area

Soil sampling procedure- rules

Points to be considered:
Collect during fallow period.
In the standing crop, collect samples between
rows.
Sampling at several locations in azigzagpattern ensures homogeneity.
Fields, which are similar in appearance,
production and past-management practices, can
be grouped into a single sampling unit.
Collect separate samples from fields that
differ in colour, slope, drainage, past
management practices like liming, gypsum
application, fertilization, cropping systemetc.

 Avoid sampling in dead furrows, wet spots,

areas near main bund, trees, manure heaps and
irrigation channels.
For shallow rooted crops, collect samples up to
15 cm depth. For deep rooted crops, collect
samples up to 30 cm depth. For tree crops,
collect profile samples.
Always collect the soil sample in presence of
the farm owner who knows the farm better.
Test the soil before crop establishment and
subsequently every three years for perennial
crops and for annual crops it would be good
practice to sample soil annually or at least
biennially

Procedure for collection and preparation of

soil samples
homogenous units based on the visual
observation and farmers experience.
Remove the surface litter at the sampling spot.
Drive the auger to a plough depth of 15 cm and
draw the soil sample.
Collect at least 10 to 15 samples from each
sampling unit and place in a bucket or tray.
If auger is not available, make a V shaped cut
to a depth of 15 cm in the sampling spot using
spade.
Remove thick slices of soil from top to bottom
of exposed face of the V shaped cut and place
in a clean container.

1 inch / 2.5 cm 6 inches (15 cm)

Compartmentalization

Soil sampling depth

Sl.No.

Crop

Grasses and grasslands

Rice, finger millet, groundnut, pearl
millet, small milletsetc.(shallow
rooted crops)
Cotton, sugarcane, banana,
tapioca, vegetablesetc. (deep
rooted crops)

Perennial crops, plantations and

orchard crops

Soil sampling
depth (cm)
5
15

22
Three soil
samples at 30,
60 and 90 cm

Frequency of sampling
Cropping system

frequency

Lawn and ornamental areas

Every two to three years

Vegetable gardens/
homesteads
Plantations

Every one to two years

Three to five years

Steps involved in the preparation of

soil fertility maps
2. Soil analysis
Asoil
testis
theanalysisof
asoilsample
to
determine
nutrientandcontaminatedcontent, composition, and other characteristics such
as theacidityorpH level. A soil test can determinefertility, or the expected
growth potential of the soil which indicates nutrient deficiencies, potential
toxicities from excessive fertility and inhibitions from the presence of nonessentialtrace elements..

Dept of Soil survey & Soil

conservation, Kerala

Dept of Soil survey & Soil

conservation, Kerala

Dept of Soil survey & Soil

conservation, Kerala

Status- Kerala
Dept of Agrl. Kerala

Dept of SS and SC

Number of Soil Testing

Laboratories

24. (14 dist labs, 9 mob,

1 soil & Pl. health care
lab)

Annual analyzing
capacity

2,88,000 soil samples

per annum

1,10,000 soil samples

per annum

Capacity Utilization

65%

75%

Review of functioning

by the Chief Soil

Chemist and the
Director of Agriculture.

By principal soil chemist

& Director of Dept of SS
& SC

Number of Soil Health

Cards issued

during 2011-12 (up to

9/11) approx. 50,500
soil health cards were
issued.

Duing 2014 approx 15

000 SHC were issued.

Preparation of soil
fertility map

Fertility maps have been Fertility maps have been

prepared up to the year, prepared until the last
2012
year

Involvement of State
recommendations is
Agricultural University(s) given in the soil health

7 labs across the state

recommendations is
given in the soil health

Steps involved in the preparation of soil

fertility maps
3. Preparation of fertility maps
Major functions are.
1. Spatial indicators of limitations and potentials of soils
2. Indispensible

instruments for formulating, establishing

and maintaining site specific soil fertility programmes

3. A tool in farmer education and awareness campaigns
4. Easy devices for predicting the behavioral pattern of soils

Photogrammetry

GPS data

RS data

Field check
Soil analytical adata

GIS

Soil fertility maps

Preparation of fertility maps

Why GIS

Soil samples were not geo-referenced

No validation of prepared maps

Creation of Data base secondary and micronutrients

STCR Recommendations for any particular field by selecting

through GIS based fertility maps

Transfer of generated technology to the farmers through govt.

agencies and NGOS.

Various analysis and decision supporting tools (Seggregation,

isolation, selection, buffering etc)

Storage, Modification, interpretation, retrieval

Some thematic maps in GIS..

Major soil information

services around the
globe..

United states of America

Africa

China

England

Hawaii

India

Kerala

Dept of Soil survey & Soil conservation,

Kerala

Dept of Soil survey & Soil

conservation, Kerala

Dept of Soil survey & Soil

conservation, Kerala

Dept of Soil survey & Soil conservation,

Kerala