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Soil Fertility History, Present Status and Future Scenario in Bangladesh

M S Islam
Former Director General
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute Joydebpur, Gazipur1701, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A review of soil fertility research and development activities in Bangladesh has been made since their initiation in 1905. Initial soil fertility studies were carried out mainly on rice, jute and winter vegetables to find out the doses of organic fertilizer materials most suitable for their optimum yield. The studies were strengthen when chemical fertilizers were introduced during fifties. The responses to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were noticeable when the cultivation of high yielding varieties of rice, wheat and other crops was started. Fertilizer recommendation on various crops was first made on the basis of soil tracts and later on 18 soil types under 20 physiographic units. The advanced information on soils of the country was generated by newly created Department of Soil Survey in early sixties. Up to 1984 six fertilizer recommendation guides were in use for helping the extension workers in suggesting fertilizer doses for different crops. After 1980, more advances on soil fertility studies were available and new guide entitled “1985 FERTILIZER RECOMMENDATION GUIDE FOR MOST BANGLADESH CROPS” was published. This guide introduced the concepts of soil testing and yield goals for making sound fertilizer recommendation. This guide was revised and updated in 1989, 1997 and 2005.The present guide just like the last two contains two parts: Part I dealing with cropping pattern based generalized fertilizer recommendation for moderate yield goals for the major AEZs and Part II dealing with the principles for making location specific fertilizer recommendations for crops for different yield goals on the basis of soil test values. Bangladesh has wide variety and complexity of soils, which are depleted and are in urgent need of replenishment with organic manure and fertilizers if projected crop production target is to be obtained. Promotion of balanced fertilization practices generated on different crops and cropping patterns at the various National Agricultural Research System (NARS) institutes are transferred through DAE, different NGOs/private companies directly involved in agricultural development activities. Proper soil fertility management emphasizing balanced fertilization in the country where food security is so crucial for poverty stricken people, where about 2 million people are added to the total population every year and where natural resources including agricultural land are shrinking day by day, must be promoted to increase production, to reduce poverty as well as to improve livelihood of the farmers. The field level officials of DAE, BADC, NGOs and private agrochemical companies should be trained properly so that they can carry the messages of modern soil fertility management practices to the doorsteps of the farmers who will increase crop productivity and maintain soil health at high fertility state for generations to come.

Keywords: Soil fertility, History, Present status, Future

Location: Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute Joydebpur, Gazipur1701, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Soil fertility

Objectives:

To find out the doses of organic fertilizer materials most suitable for their optimum yield

Methodology:

The farmers of Bangladesh usually apply fertilizers through broadcasting for most field crops and banding for some plantation and row crops. The most common practice is to apply all fertilizers including organic manure at the time of final preparation of land for rain fed crops. For irrigated crops, nitrogen fertilizer is applied in two to three installments depending on the life cycle of crop.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Agric. and Environ. 4: 129-151, Special Issue 2008

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Proper soil fertility management emphasizing balanced fertilization is one of the most important cultivation techniques that ensure optimum supply of nutrients for successful crop production and maintenance of soil health. The supply of nutrients to the soil – plant system comes from various sources, the most important sources being the organic manure and chemical fertilizers. At present more than 4.3 million tons of chemical fertilizers pricing to more than US $ 5538 millions are being used along with 70 million tons of organic manure. The use efficiency of the chemical fertilizers are low and unsatisfactory because of imbalanced or under use/sometimes over use resulting in huge wastage which the country cannot afford. Therefore, the practice of balanced fertilization should receive top priority to sustain/increase crop productivity when food security is so crucial for poverty stricken people, when the country is facing challenges of increasing population and shrinking natural resources including agricultural land and also when there exists big gap between research and farmer’s yield. The field level DAE & Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) officials, NGO personnel involved in agricultural development and officials of different private agricultural input supplying companies should be trained properly about the modern methods of soil fertility management. These officials will in turn train the farmers who will adapt balanced fertilization practice in their farms for increasing crop productivity to reduce poverty as well as to improve livelihood and at the same time maintaining soil health at high fertility state for generations to come.

Knowledge Management: Journal