Stating that deficiency of micronutrient boron in Indian soil is the important reason for low yields of crops, Principal scientist Dr Edward Raja informed that this deficiency can be corrected by applying boron to soil in adequate quantities.

Starting with a worst-case scenario of lead contamination of soil, a scientist at Mie University in Japan has demonstrated the use of poultry waste amendment in combination with plant growth to immobilize soil Pb and restore degraded vegetation in shooting range sites.

Indian farmers will soon be provided with soil health card, to guide them for a balanced and judicious use of chemical fertilisers in an effort to maintain the soil health.

Cow has been integral to agriculture life in India since time immemorial. Compost prepared using cow dung, plants and other waste materials was used till chemical fertiliser became popular in the modern days.

The Colorado State University (CSU) recently announced Dr Rajiv Khosla as the recipient of the Monfort professorship.

The Monfort Family Foundation has established a programme in which it employs faculty at the CSU and announces two members as Monfort professors.

Khosla will receive $75,000 each year to support teaching and research efforts.

Soil scientists and agronomists revealed that salinity has started rising in the agriculture fields with indiscriminate and unwise using of salt in the country's northwestern region creating an apprehension of detrimental impact to soil nutrients and fertility.

The potential health impact, called by some an

Fertility: Joint Director of Agriculture Siva Chellappa giving away the

But not as much as was thought, says a study SOIL erosion worldwide is threatening our agricultural base. Our farmers are suffering. The maximum amount of soil that an area can lose without affecting its ability to sustain plant growth is the soil loss tolerance value or the T value. Previously the T value for India was set at a uniform 11.2 tonnes of soil per hectare per year. Debashis Mandal