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New Delhi : National Productivity Council (NPC) carried out a study on ‘Soil Testing Infrastructure for Faster Delivery of Soil Health Card in India’ in 2017. In the study, it was found that application of fertiliser and micronutrients based on Soil Health Card (SHC) recommendations resulted in 8-10% of savings and overall increase in the yield of crops up to 5-6%.
National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad, conducted an impact study of Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme (November 2017). The major findings were that there is some reduction in fertiliser use, especially Nitrogen and increase in bio-fertilisers and other micro-nutrients use.
Overall, paddy farmers reduced use of urea by 9%, Di Ammonium Phosphate (DAP)/ Single Super Phosphate (SSP) by 7%, but increased use of Potassium by 20%.This is a healthy sign of moving towards balanced use of fertilisers. The States have not reported any challenges facing them while implementing the scheme. Soil Health Card Scheme has been implemented in all parts of the country including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. This information was given in a written reply by the Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar in Lok Sabha on November 30, 2021, according to a PIB release.