Soil Resources Development Institute (SRDI) has undertaken soil testing program through mobile laboratory to encourage use of balanced fertilizers through soil testing. Under this programme, 10 mobile laboratories will test soil in 56 upazilas of 49 districts of the country. Farmers will be able to test the soil of the crop land at a subsidized price of just Rs.25 (actual cost is Rs.440). Institute staff will provide fertilizer recommendation cards after soil testing.
According to SRDI information, the Mobile Soil Testing Laboratory (MSTL) will conduct soil testing activities through 10 mobile labs from today (November 17) to December 14 as per the schedule for Rabi-2024 season. The laboratories named after rivers are Yamuna, Titas, Rupsa, Teesta, Madhumati, Karnaphuli, Brahmaputra, Kirtankhola, Surma and Karatoa. The analyzed soil elements in the study are pH, EC, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, zinc and boron.
The slogan of the mobile soil testing program is 'Use balanced fertilizers, grow more crops at home through soil testing'.
Laboratory 'Yamuna' will be stationed in six upazilas including Tongibari in Munshiganj and Durgapur in Netrokona from today till December 7 to test soil quality. At the same time, the laboratory 'Titas' will be located in six upazilas including Sonagazi of Feni, Ramgati of Laxmipur. 'Tista' will be located in six upazilas including Singra of Natore, Shahajadpur of Sirajganj. 'Karnaphuli' will be located in six upazilas including Fatikchari in Chittagong, Chakria in Cox's Bazar. 'Brahmaputra' will be in six upazilas including Tangail's Delduar, Jamalpur's Bakshiganj. 'Karatwa' will be located in six upazilas including Gangachra of Rangpur, Pirganj of Thakurgaon.
The laboratory 'Madhumati' will be located in four upazilas including Vedarganj, Madaripur Sadar of Shariatpur from 17 to 30 November. At the same time, the laboratory will be located in four upazilas including Kirtankhola, Gournadi in Barisal, Dumki in Patuakhali. 'Surma' will be located in four upazilas including Kanaighat in Sylhet, Baralekha in Moulvibazar. Apart from this, from November 17 to December 14, the laboratory 'Rupsa' will be stationed in eight upazilas including Mujibnagar in Meherpur and Daulatpur in Kushtia.
The Soil Resources Development Institute started the first soil quality testing at the upazila level in 1996 through a mobile laboratory. In the beginning there were only two mobile laboratories but later it increased to 10. SRDI undertakes soil testing program in new upazilas every year.
If you want to know, Director General of SRDI. Jalal Uddin told Ajker newspaper, 'Due to mobile laboratory and manpower shortage, soil quality will be tested in certain upazilas. 50 selected farmers in each upazila will get soil testing opportunity. They will also be trained on fertilizer use. Farmers can grow crops on the land for five years as per the instructions of the Fertilizer Recommendation Card.'
