Haryana Farmers Face Alarm as Soil Health Declines in Sirsa
They added that adherence to recommendations on the Soil Health Cards could raise crop yields by an estimated 15–25 per cent.
Haryana Farmers Face Alarm as Soil Health Declines in Sirsa
With falling levels of organic carbon and nitrogen posing a serious threat to crop productivity, the Sirsa district in Haryana is witnessing a troubling decline in soil health. According to data from the district’s Soil Health Dashboard, nitrogen deficiency emerged as the most pressing concern in soil tests conducted over recent seasons, which directly impacted early plant growth, leaf development and overall yields.
Agriculture Department sources said that during the 2024–25 period, nearly 99,572 soil samples were tested across the district. Soil Health Cards, which provide tailored nutrient recommendations to farmers based on their land’s condition, have already been sent to 82,935 farmers via WhatsApp. According to sources, in the current 2025-26 season, 52,982 samples have been collected, and testing is still underway.
Agriculture experts said that tests from areas including Rania block and villages such as Natar, Shaheedanwali, Mallekan, Madhosinghana, Salarpur, Khajakhera and Alanoor revealed widespread deficiencies in organic carbon and nitrogen. An additional 1,819 samples were found to have extremely low organic carbon content.
Officials at the district soil testing laboratory attributed the nutrient decline largely to reduced use of farmyard manure, green manure, and crop residues. They emphasised that reliance on chemical fertilisers alone, without replenishing organic matter, has weakened soil fertility over time. They added that adherence to recommendations on the Soil Health Cards could raise crop yields by an estimated 15–25 per cent.
Dr Sukhdev Singh Kamboj, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Officer in Sirsa, said both macro- and micronutrient deficiencies were now widespread across the district. Dr Kamboj urged farmers to apply fertilisers scientifically and increase organic matter in their fields to help restore soil fertility. He also advised against burning crop residues, recommending farmers instead leave them in fields to support beneficial insects and soil microorganisms that contribute to fertility.
The Agriculture Department has suggested several remedial steps, including greater use of green and farmyard manure, retention of crop residues, balanced application of micronutrients such as zinc, boron, and iron, crop rotation practices and efficient irrigation techniques such as drip or sprinkler systems to maintain soil moisture.
Source: The Tribune