All India
Coordinated Scheme of Micro- and Secondary- Nutrients
and Pollutant Elements in Soils and Plants (ICAR),
Anand Agricultural University
Anand – 388 110 (GUJARAT) (India)
Establishment year
The scheme was
started on 1st September, 1967 at Anand Centre. When the
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi started the
All India Coordinated Research Project on Micronutrients in Soils and
Plants at different centers covering different regions of India, the
erstwhile Institute of Agriculture, Anand was chosen as one of the nine
centers. Subsequently, from the VII Five Year Plan onwards, the
objectives of the Scheme were broadened by incorporating research on
secondary nutrients and pollutant elements..
Introduction
The scheme
was started at Anand center in order to assess the micronutrient
status of soils of Western region of India and to carry out
related studies. The scheme is located at Anand, Agricultural
University Campus, Anand situated about 60 km south of Ahmedabad
and 40 km north of Vadodara on Ahmedabad – Mumbai railway line.
Middle Gujarat
Agro-Climatic Zone – III (AES – II)
Rainfall:
800-1000 mm, Rainy days:35-40
Soil
The soil of
the area is locally known as goradu soil and it is alluvial in
original and belongs to Entisols. The texture is sandy loam. It
is low in N, medium in available phosphorus and high in
available potash. It is low to medium in Zn and Fe and
sufficient in Mn and Cu. The soil reaction is slightly above
neutral
Temperature
Max. (oC): 45o
Min. (oC): 32o
Geographical Details
Latitude- 22o 11’ N
Longitude- 73o 27’ E
Altitude (M.S.L.)- 43.128 m
Soil Properties
Type
: Sandy loam to loamy sand (Typic Ustrocherpts)
pH
: 7.6 to 8.1
Infrastructure :
The scheme does
not have its own farm. The experiments are conducted on plots
allotted by the college Agricultural Farm and on farmers’ fields
Mandate :
::
To
assess the micronutrients status of soils of Western region of
India and to carry out related studies..
Objectives
:
::
Nutrient indexing
for forecasting the emergence of micro- and secondary- nutrient
deficiencies in different soil-crop-management systems and
delineation of micro- and secondary- nutrients deficient and
toxic areas through soil and plant analysis. .
::
Studies on
response of crops to S and micronutrients application in
important crops / cropping systems..
::
Development of
amelioration techniques for correction of micronutrients
deficiencies for increasing nutrient-use-efficiency of inorganic
micro- and secondary- nutrients fertilizers and organic manures.
::
Monitoring of
hazards from heavy metal pollution and trace elements toxicities
in soils, plant and animal system.
::
Diagnosis of
micro- and secondary- nutrients deficiencies and heavy metal
toxicities in soils and plants..
::
Study of
mechanisms of nutrient interactions in soils and plants.
Projects Operating at the Research
Station
Sr. No
Name of scheme
Budget Head
Type of scheme
Funding agency
1.
All India
Co- ordinated Research Scheme of Micro- and Secondary-
Nutrients and Pollutant Elements in Soils and Plants
2020
AICRP
ICAR – 75
%
State –
25 %
2.
Organic
Farming Research Cell
10903
GOG
GOG
3.
Development of methodologies for detection of
heavy metal contamination
10938
GOG
GOG
4.
Development of org. farming systems for
sustainable crop productivity and quality
10965
GOG
GOG
5.
Feasibility of Bio-Treated Industrial Waste in Agriculture
The
project has brought out about 26 recommendations with regard
to use of micro and secondary nutrients for farmers' use.
The
project has also prepared deficiency maps of S, Fe and Zn
for Gujarat soils on the basis of nutrient status and
subsequently updated using fertility index.
The
recommendations include use of different rates of
micronutrient mixtures for important crops of different
agro- climatic situations of the state. In general, the
yield increase in different crops due to recommended
technologies noticed was to the tune of 15 to 20 per cent
over control.
In all62Front Line Demonstrations were conducted; and
Farmers' Day was also organized every year in order to
convince the farmers about the use of secondary and
micronutrients in enhancing crop productivity and quality.
Technology
for promoting use of organics viz., FYM and sewage sludge
was developed by combined use of treated sewage sludge and
FYM without affecting soil quality.
Low cost
technology of enrichment of FYM / organics with Zn / Fe
fertilizers was developed to reduce the load of chemical
fertilizer and thereby improvement in soil health.
Low cost
seed treatments using micronutrients carriers / fertilizers
were developed to provide efficient nutrition of
micronutrients to crops for enhancing crop productivity.
Different
S and B sources were evaluated to find out efficient source
for increasing crop productivity.
Assessment
and characterization of heavy metals contamination in
agricultural soils and plants in peri urben areas
have been conducted. The contamination of soil-water-plant
system with heavy metals was indicated.
Phyto-
toxicity loading limits of Ni and Cd were worked out for
vegetables viz., fenugreek and tomato in order to
provide information on effects of possible high level
contamination of soil with these metals in peri urben
areas where effluents are intercepted for irrigating fields
by the farmers.
Contamination levels and microelements nutrition in domestic
animals was studied. The soil deficient in Zn and Fe was
found as a causal factor for certain disorders in animals.
Therefore, the supplementation of micronutrients to soil /
crop or enrichment of feeds with micronutrients was found
necessary for proper maintenance of animal health.
Awards :
1.
Sardar Patel Agricultural Research Award-2000
(First Prize) (Presented by Govt. of Gujarat)
Management of Sulphur in Soils of Gujarat for
Enhancing Crop Productivity
2000
2.
Chaudhari Devilal Outstanding AICRP-Award –2001
(Presented by Govt. of India to the Project)
Outstanding contribution in the field of Micro- and
Secondary Nutrients and Pollutant Elements
2001
3.
TSI-FAI-IFA Best Report Preparation & Presentation
Award
Sulphur in Balanced Fertilization
2003
4.
Best Doctoral Research Presentation Award-2006
(Indian Society of Soil Science, IARI, New Delhi)
Effect of Nickel and FYM on Yield and Chemical
Composition of Field Crops Grown on Effluent
Irrigated Fluventic Ustochrepts Soils
2006
5.
FAI Golden Jubilee Award – 2007
(Fertilizer Asso. of India, New Delhi)
Use of Micronutrients for Improving crop Yields
2007
6.
Hari Om Ashram Prof. J. P. Trivedi
Award - 2006
Assessment and Impact of Waste water use on
Soil-Plant Health and its Management for Sustenance
of Soil Quality
2008
7.
FIRST POSITION in Poster Paper
Presentation at the National Seminar organized by
DOEAC, Government of India and ICAR New Delhi
Effect of B Application on Crops Yield and Soil
Properties under Groundnut-Wheat Sequence
2008
8.
FIRST POSITION in State Level PG
Paper Presentation Competition – 2008
(SDAU,
Sardarkrushinagar & GUCOT)
Effect of Nickel and FYM on Yield and Chemical
Composition of Field Crops Grown on Effluent
Irrigated Fluventic Ustochrepts Soils
2008
Transfer of technology
No.
Details
Numbers
1.
Paper published in
National/International journals
77
2.
Paper presented in
National/International symposiums/ Seminar
