Soil & Nutrition
Understanding soil health, pH, nutrients and fertiliser management
17 articles
17 minNitrogen Deficiency in Plants: Symptoms, Look-alikes, Causes, How to Confirm It and How to Fix It
Nitrogen deficiency shows as pale green to yellow older leaves, slow growth and thin, stunted plants. Nitrogen moves inside the plant, so the oldest leaves go first. In maize the yellowing makes a V from the leaf tip. Before you add urea, rule out root problems, waterlogging, cold soil, sulphur and disease, because they look alike. Confirm with a soil test, a leaf colour chart or a tissue test. Quick fix: a dilute urea spray as per your state agricultural university recommendation, then correct the soil with split doses. Pulses mostly fix their own nitrogen.
19 minTypes of Soil in India: Black, Red and Alluvial Soil Compared, with Crops and Main States
India has eight main soil groups in the ICAR classification: alluvial, black (regur), red, laterite, arid or desert, saline and alkaline, peaty and marshy, and forest and mountain. No single soil is best for every crop. Alluvial soil of the Indo-Gangetic plains covers the largest share of India and is the main base for wheat and rice. Black soil holds the most water and is the cotton soil, but it is low in nitrogen, phosphorus, zinc and organic matter and is hard to work. Red soil is light, acidic and low in fertility but responds well to manure, lime and balanced fertiliser. Laterite suits plantations. The best soil depends on your crop, your water and the depth of the soil.
20 minSoil Salinity: Causes, Symptoms in Crops, EC and pH Limits, Testing and How to Reclaim Salty Soil
Soil salinity means too much soluble salt in the root zone. Water cannot move into roots, so crops look drought-hit even when the field is wet. A soil is called saline when its saturation-extract EC is above 4 dS/m, pH is below 8.5 and ESP is below 15 percent.
11 minWhy Are Plants Growing Slowly? Common Causes, How to Diagnose Them and What to Do
Plants usually grow slowly because something is limiting their roots or leaves: too little light, too much or too little water, soil pH that locks nutrients, a missing nutrient, cramped or compacted roots, pests or disease, cold, or salt in the soil. Look at which leaves show the problem, check the roots, then fix the single biggest limit first.
12 minHydroponics for Beginners: Systems, Nutrients, Home Setup and Common Mistakes
Hydroponics is growing plants without soil by feeding their roots a water-based nutrient solution. Beginners should start with the Kratky method or deep water culture and grow lettuce or herbs. Keep nutrient pH at about 5.5 to 6.5 and EC near 1.2 to 1.8 dS/m, use a darkened reservoir, and check the solution weekly.
13 minBenefits of Mulching: Types, How Much to Apply, Organic vs Plastic and Common Mistakes
Mulching means covering the soil surface with a protective layer such as straw, leaves, wood chips, compost or plastic film. It conserves soil moisture, suppresses weeds, moderates soil temperature, reduces erosion and, with organic mulch, adds organic matter as it decomposes. Typical depth is about 5 to 10 cm, less for fine materials.
10 minPlant Growth Regulators: Types, Examples, Uses and PGR vs Biostimulants
Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are natural or synthetic compounds that, in very small amounts, promote, inhibit or modify plant growth and development. The five main classes are auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, abscisic acid and ethylene. Growers use them for rooting, flowering, fruit set, ripening and height control. In India, PGRs are regulated under the Insecticides Act, while biostimulants come under the Fertiliser Control Order.
12 minCrop Rotation: Examples, Plan Templates and Benefits for Indian Farms
Crop rotation is growing different crops one after another on the same land instead of repeating one crop. A legume such as chana or moong is followed by a cereal such as wheat or rice, so soil nitrogen is restored and pest and disease cycles break. The simplest order is legume, then leafy or fruiting crop, then root crop, then back to legume.
19 minDAP and Urea Shortage in India: Why It Happens, Stock Position, Price and What Farmers Can Do
Yes, many farmers report that DAP is hard to find in the rabi 2026-27 sowing rush, and the government says national stock is more than demand. Both can be true at once, because stock is national while a farmer needs it at a nearby shop on the sowing day. The official price is Rs 1,350 for a 50 kg bag of DAP. Rajasthan's minister said on 10 Oct 2026 that state stock would last about 18 days for DAP and 35 days for urea. Buy only against a PoS bill at MRP, and report overcharging or forced add-ons to the district agriculture office or the Kisan Call Centre (1800-180-1551).
11 minGypsum in Agriculture: Saline vs Sodic Soil, Dose, Method and When to Apply Before Rabi
Gypsum (calcium sulphate) reclaims sodic or alkali soil, where too much sodium sits on the soil particles and pH is high. It does not fix a purely saline soil, which needs drainage and leaching. ICAR-CSSRI's thumb rule is 12 to 15 tonnes of gypsum per hectare, mixed into the top 10 cm, followed by 7 to 10 days of ponded water, and starting with rice as the first crop. The dose can be halved with FYM or salt-tolerant varieties.
9 minCold Weather and Nutrient Uptake: Why Winter Crops Turn Yellow or Purple and What to Do
In cold weather, soil is cold and roots grow slowly. Nutrients that move slowly through soil, mainly phosphorus, zinc, manganese and iron, then reach the roots less. Leaves can turn yellow or purple even when the soil has enough. This is often temporary and clears as the soil warms. First check the cause, avoid extra urea, give light irrigation before a cold wave, and test the soil before you spray.
5 minWheat Yellowing After First Irrigation: Zinc, Sulphur, Manganese or Urea Timing?
Wheat that yellows after the first irrigation usually has one of five causes: temporary waterlogging, nitrogen shortage from late urea, manganese deficiency on light soils, sulphur deficiency on sandy soils, or zinc deficiency. Check which leaves yellow first and the pattern, then correct with drainage, urea, or a manganese, zinc or sulphur dose.
