Soil fertility declining in Nawalparasi

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Photo: Meena Kandel/TRN Technicians testing soil in Kawasoti.

By Meena Kandel,Kawasoti, Nov. 23: The fertility of cultivable land in Nawalparasi is decreasing due to the excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, leading to reduced soil productivity.

The soil tests conducted across all 17 wards of Kawasoti Municipality revealed high acidity levels, with 90 per cent of the samples showing elevated acidity, according to Khubraj Baral, a technician at the Gandaki Province Laboratory.

Additionally, key nutrients such as decaying matter, nitrogen, organic matter, and phosphorus were found to be in low supply in the arable soil.

Baral explained that while the heavy use of chemical fertilisers provides short-term benefits, it adversely affects soil quality in the long run. 

He recommended the application of agricultural lime every three years and highlighted that many farmers remain unaware of appropriate pesticide usage.

Farmer Hum Sharma from Kawasoti-16, who cultivates vegetables and rice on four acres of land, noted a decline in productivity until he tested his soil two years ago. 

He said, “I did not realise soil testing was necessary before. I was concerned when production began to decline, but two years ago, after learning about its importance, I decided to have the soil tested."

He said, “Soil testing helped me understand the condition of the land and plan accordingly.”

Kawasoti agriculture branch chief Shiva Narayan Kumal stated that soil tests were also conducted in the municipality two years ago, and efforts have been made to educate farmers on improving production through regular testing.

Kumal added that repeated cultivation of the same crops and overuse of pesticides without soil testing has worsened the fertility of the land. The office states that the soil dries out even when the same type of crop is planted repeatedly.

According to Kumal, about 300 farmers in Kawasoti have undergone soil testing. Baral suggests that soil fertilit1y can be improved through crop rotation and increased cultivation of leguminous crops.

He urged farmers to pay attention to sustainable practices to address declining fertility and ensure long-term productivity.

He also advises farmers to be aware that the decline in soil fertility is due to a lack of knowledge about the proper use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

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