Friday, 27 October 2023

Soil Testing and Nutrient Analysis

Soil testing and nutrient analysis are foundational steps in optimizing nutrient management for healthy, high-yield crops. Here's an overview of the importance and key aspects of this topic:

1. Significance of Soil Testing:

Identifying Nutrient Status: Soil testing provides valuable insights into the current nutrient status of your soil, including levels of essential macronutrients (NPK) and micronutrients.

Customized Fertilization: It allows for precise and customized fertilizer recommendations, ensuring that crops receive the nutrients they need and preventing overapplication and unnecessary costs.

2. Nutrient Analysis:

Macronutrients: Soil testing measures macronutrients like Nitrogen

, Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) to determine their availability to plants. This information guides the selection of appropriate fertilizers.

Micronutrients: It also analyzes micronutrients like iron, manganese, and zinc, which are essential in smaller quantities for plant health.

3. Steps in Soil Testing:

Sample Collection: Soil samples are collected from various points in the field to represent the entire area accurately. Sampling depth and method are important factors.

Laboratory Analysis: Soil samples are sent to a certified laboratory for analysis. The lab provides data on nutrient levels, pH, organic matter content, cation exchange capacity (CEC) salt concentrations among other parameters.

Interpretation: Soil test results are interpreted to determine nutrient deficiencies or imbalances. This information informs fertilizer recommendations.

4. Benefits of Soil Testing:

Fertilizer Use Efficiency: Soil testing facilitates a higher fertilizer use efficiency by tailoring fertilization to the specific needs of each field or crop, minimizing waste and environmental impact.

Cost Savings: By applying only the required nutrients, farmers can reduce fertilizer costs while maintaining or increasing yields.

5. pH and Soil Acidity:

Soil testing includes pH measurement, which determines soil acidity or alkalinity. Correcting pH is crucial since it affects nutrient availability. Lime may be recommended to raise pH in acidic soils, making nutrients more accessible to plants.

6. Timing and Frequency:

Regular soil testing is recommended, typically on an annual basis, to monitor nutrient changes over time. Timing should align with crop rotation and before each planting season.

By understanding the significance of soil testing and nutrient analysis, farmers can make informed decisions about nutrient management. Regular soil testing, correct interpretation of results, and customized fertilization based on these findings are crucial for maintaining soil health and achieving optimal crop yields while conserving resources and protecting the environment.

Impact of Soil Microbiome on Nutrient Cycling

Soil microbiomes are essential for nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. They play pivotal roles in nutrient transformations and cycling:

1. Decomposition: Bacteria and fungi decompose organic matter, breaking it down into simpler compounds. This decomposition releases essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, making them available for plant uptake.

2. Nitrogen Fixation: Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonium (NH4+), a plant-available form of nitrogen. This process enriches the soil with nitrogen, a critical nutrient for plant growth.

3. Mineralization: Microbes mineralize organic nutrients, converting them into inorganic forms that plants can absorb. This includes the conversion of organic phosphorus into soluble phosphate.

Indeed, microorganisms dwelling within the soil play an often-overlooked yet vital role in agriculture. They operate diligently in the background, tirelessly enriching soil fertility, and fortifying the overall resilience of farming ecosystems. Acknowledging and fostering this concealed force within our soils stands as a fundamental requirement for ensuring the sustainability and productivity of agriculture over the long term.

#savesoil #soilhealth #soilscience

ENVIRONMENT EXCURSION TOUR VIZAG-DELHI-HARIDWAR-RISHIKESH-MUSSOORIE-DEHRDUN-NOIDA-NEWDELHI-VIZAG -KAKINADA

Thursday, 19 October 2023

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

National LeadIT Workshop on Steel held to facilitate deliberations on Low Carbon Transition of the Steel sector in IndiaPosted On: 18 Oct 2023
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change conducts Wetlands Cleaning around different Ramsar SitesPosted On: 17 Oct 2023
Notification issued for Green Credit Program (GCP) and Ecomark scheme Under LiFE Initiative to Promote Sustainable Lifestyle and Environmental ConservationPosted On: 13 Oct 2023
WWF-India organises awareness activities during Wildlife Week 2nd-8th October under Mission LiFEPosted On: 13 Oct 2023
Conduction of Cleanliness drive and mass awareness campaign related to the mandates and concepts of Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)Posted On: 10 Oct 2023
As per GRAP, Stage-I is to be imposed in the entire NCR when the daily average AQI of Delhi touches/ crosses 201 index valuePosted On: 06 Oct 2023
National Zoological Park begins celebration of 69th Wildlife Week with theme "Partnerships for wildlife conservation"Posted On: 02 Oct 2023
Shri Bhupender Yadav leads the cleanliness drive under the Swachchta Hi Seva campaignPosted On: 01 Oct 2023

Saturday, 14 October 2023

WWF-India organises awareness activities during Wildlife Week 2nd-8th October under Mission LiFE

Posted On: 13 OCT 2023 1:45PM by PIB Delhi

WWF-India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, (MoEF&CC) organises various awareness activities on the occasion of Wildlife Week 2nd-8th October under Mission LiFE. The aim was to emphasise the importance of wildlife conservation and climate change in maintaining nature’s equilibrium among students of multiple schools of Delhi. The theme for this year wildlife week celebrations is "Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation".

The mandate of Programme Centre at WWF-India, MoEF&CC is “Wildlife Conservation (including species and habitat) using geospatial techniques”. Programme Centre (PC) EIACP (Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme), Resource Partner (RP) at WWF-India was set up for collection, collation, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information in order to support and promote research, development and innovation among decision-makers, researchers, academicians, policy planners, research scientists & and other stakeholders.

During the week, students of various schools of Delhi were briefed about the Wildlife Week, its importance and about the theme i.e., "Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation". WWF-India team also conveyed the message of Mission LiFE through a 12-minute documentary video, students and teachers also took the Pledge. The event was very impactful as after that the school children showed much interest to know more about wildlife conservation, and about combating climate change by adopting lifestyle changes in an eco-friendly manner. The target audience of approximately 864 participated in these awareness activities.

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Notification issued for Green Credit Program (GCP) and Ecomark scheme Under LiFE Initiative to Promote Sustainable Lifestyle and Environmental Conservation

Posted On: 13 OCT 2023 6:52PM by PIB Delhi

To take ahead the 'LiFE' - 'Lifestyle for Environment' movement announced by the Hon’ble Prime Minister in 2021, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has introduced two pioneering initiatives that indicate the country's pro-active approach to climate change, sustainability and promotion eco-conscious practices. These initiatives, the Green Credit Program (GCP) and the Ecomark Scheme, seek to encourage environmentally friendly practices rooted in tradition and conservation; reflecting the ideas of LiFE concept.
Green Credit Program (GCP): Incentivizing Environmental Actions
Green Credit Program (GCP )notified on 13th October, 2023 is an innovative market-based mechanism designed to incentivize voluntary environmental actions across diverse sectors, by various stakeholders like individuals, communities, private sector industries, and companies. The GCP's governance framework is supported by an inter-ministerial Steering Committee and The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) serves as the GCP Administrator, responsible for program implementation, management, monitoring, and operation.
In its initial phase, the GCP focuses on two key activities: water conservation and afforestation. Draft methodologies for awarding Green Credits have been developed and will be notified for stakeholder consultation. These methodologies set benchmarks for each activity/process, to ensure environmental impact and fungibility across sectors. A user-friendly digital platform will streamline the processes for registration of projects, its verification, and issuance of Green Credits. The Green Credit Registry and trading platform, being developed by ICFRE along with experts, would facilitate the registration and thereafter, the buying and selling of Green Credits.
To obtain Green Credits, individuals and entities must register their activities through the central government's dedicated app/website www.moefcc-gcp.in. The Administrator will verify the activity through a designated agency, with self-verification for small projects. Once verification is complete, the Administrator will grant a Green Credit certificate which will be tradable on the green credit platform.
Ecomark Scheme: Promoting Eco-Friendly Products
The philosophy behind LiFE, (Lifestyle for Environment)is nudging individual choices and behavior towards sustainability. In line with this approach, the MoEF&CC has recast its Ecomark notification so that consumers are able to make choices among products and thereby opt for those products that are eco-friendly in their design, process etc.
The Ecomark Scheme, notified on 13th October 2023, replaces the previous Notification. It provides accreditation and labelling for household and consumer products that meet specific environmental criteria while maintaining quality standards as per Indian norms. Products accredited under the Ecomark Scheme will adhere to specific environmental criteria, ensuring minimal environmental impact. It will build consumer awareness of environmental issues and encourage eco-conscious choices. It will also motivate manufacturers to shift towards environmentally friendly production. The scheme seeks to ensure accurate labelling and prevent misleading information about products.
The Central Pollution Control Board administers the Ecomark Scheme in partnership with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which is the national body for standards and certification.
Both initiatives mark significant steps in promoting sustainable living, environmental conservation, and, through individual and collective choice, embody eco-friendly practices in India. They align with global sustainability goals and reflect the government's commitment to conservation and protection of the environment.
Click here to see gazette notification

Click here to see gazette notification

Thursday, 12 October 2023

Greenko is one of India’s leading Renewable Energy companies

	Vision :
	“To lead Decarbonization, Digitalization and Decentralization of India's Energy Sector”
	Mission :
	Build and operate flexible utility scale energy assets to deliver demand driven solutions.
	Continuously innovate to deliver best-in-class solutions with life cycle focus.
	Manage all assets sustainably, leveraging leading-edge technologies.
	Build public-private-people alliances for sustainable development.