New Delhi: Soil tests in different parts of the country in the last five years have revealed that multi-nutrient deficiencies are surfacing in many intensively cultivated areas, according to official data. 

Soil tests data of last five years have revealed there is 49 per cent shortage of zink while deficiency of sulphur is 41 per cent, boron (33 per cent) and iron (12 per cent). 

The main reason for multi-nutrient deficiencies is imbalanced use of fertilisers and insufficient quantity of manures available to implement integrated nutrient management (INM) over the larger areas, Minister of State for Agriculture Harish Rawat informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply. 

Compilation of data on soil tests from different soil testing laboratories in various states was done by the Institute of Soil Science. 

As part of remedial measures, Rawat said the government is promoting soil test based and judicious use of chemical fertilisers in conjunction with organic manures like Farm Yard Manure, compost, vermi compost and green manure to maintain soil health and its productivity.

Source:http://www.zeenews.com