(a) the details of the soil tests on nonagricultural and agricultural land being conducted
by the Government;
(b) whether soil-tests are not being conducted according to the rules due to which the
production capacity of land is not being fully utilised;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon; and
(d) the details of the performance of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes in this regard?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 243 DUE FOR REPLY ON 3RD DECEMBER, 2007
(a) to (c): Soil tests for soil fertility on agricultural land are being carried out by
the soil testing laboratories as per standard methodology. Besides, Soil and Land Use Survey
of India (SLUSI) conducts detailed soil survey in the priority watershed of various catchments
of river valley project, as per standard methodology irrespective of soils occurring under
various land use such as agriculture, forest and open scrub.
(d): Under the centrally sponsored scheme (namely, balanced and integrated use of fertilizer)
assistance is given for setting up of new laboratories and for strengthening the existing
laboratories. At present there are 651 soil testing laboratories in the country with an annual
analyzing capacity of about 7 million soil samples. The capacity utilization is about 82%. Under
the central sector scheme for Soil and Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI) detailed surveys are
conducted in the priority watersheds. The organization has so far covered 13.5 million hectares
under detailed soil survey.