Nod Nath Lamichhane, an agricultural technician, opined that soil fertility is gradually declining due to poor farming practices. He also informed that data from soil tests conducted at different times over the year show the declining quality of agricultural land in the district. [break]
According to Lamichhane, 60 percent of the 44,000 hectares of arable land in the district has been losing fertility rapidly. The soil tests show that 60 percent of the land has turned acidic and 4 percent is found to be saline.
Soil acid levels of between 6 and 7 on the pH (potential hydrogen) scale, a measure of acidity or alkalinity, is generally considered ideal for the growth of plants and vegetation. However, soils at Jagatpur, Shaktikhor and Nyureni areas in Chitwan measured 3 on the pH scale.
Lamichhane informed that the pH level of soil in Mangalpur, Ratnanagar and Bhandara, an area famous for high agricultural productivity, has dropped to 4 and even lower. Agriculturalists also informed that the PH level of alkaline soils has climbed to over 7, which is also not good for agricultural productivity.
Over two hundred soil specimens from across the district were tested under the Soil Testing Lab in Hetauda. The agricultural experts have suggested treatment of the soil to increase productivity. According to them, although paddy, maize and other cereal crops can thrive in soil that is a bit acidic, fruits and vegetables cannot at all endure in acidic soil.
The rise in pesticide use, indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers, the decline in the use of organic manure, no or little use of compost, rise in population density, commercialization of agriculture and deforestation are said to be the main causes of soil deterioration.
Dhan Bahadur Thapa, an agriculture expert, said that unsystematic farming has aggravated the depletion of soil nutrients needed for farming. He suggested the farming of legume plants to maintain fertility in the soil. He was of the opinion that indiscriminate farming without knowing of soil properties contributes to soil degradation.
“The trend of vegetable farming in land suitable for paddies, fisheries in fields suitable for vegetables and plating of banana in places suitable for fish ponds have contributed to debasing the soil quality,” said Thapa. “A farmer should be aware about what plants would suit his/her land,” he opined. Agriculturists said it is time to think about the issue seriously and start treating the soil.
Chitwan is counted as one of the most food-secure districts. Paddy is cultivated on 29,659 hectares, wheat on 8,726 hectares, maize on 29,600 hectares and mustard on 710 hectares in the district.
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