About ICAR-CTCRI
The ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI), a constituent institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research was established in 1963 and has a Regional Station at Bhubaneswar, Odisha. All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Tuber Crops (AICRP-TC) functioning at CTCRI headquarters at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala takes care of the research, development and extension of tropical tuber crops of the 18 States and one Union Territory (Andaman and Nicobar islands) of India. CTCRI is the only research organization in the world dedicated solely to research on tropical tuber crops which includes major tuber crops like cassava, sweet potato, yams, aroids (elephant foot yam, taro and tannia) and minor tuber crops like Chinese potato, arrowroot and yam bean. These crops constitute one of the most important staple foods for the people in the developing world besides their versatile uses in feed and industrial sectors. More than 60 years of concerted research have led to the development of several sustainable production, protection and processing technologies for these crops, besides the release of 71 improved varieties. The agri-business incubator and techno-incubation centre at headquarters and regional station are involved in promoting entrepreneurship among the farmers and other stakeholders.
Background
Soil quality and soil health are the present two important concepts as regards to the sustainability of agro-ecosystems. Their assessment involves the estimation and integration of maximum number of key soil parameters including physical, chemical macro and microbiological properties, which is determined through soil testing. Since soil and water are closely related in terms of nutrient availability and uptake by plants, water quality assessment especially of irrigation water too is important. The availability and use of many present day new generation fertilizers and other chemical formulations too necessitates a systematic soil testing to optimize their use for maximizing crop yields and in minimizing the damage to the environment. Among the many challenges under soil test based nutrient recommendation for farmers, timely availability of soil test reports is the major, despite of many rapid estimation methods available nowadays. Taking into account the significance of soil under the present concept on soil-plant- animal-human continuum, it is imperative to create awareness among public on soil health and its quality.
Objectives
The main objectives of this short course are
To impart knowledge on soil health and soil quality to the stakeholders
To update the latest techniques and skills on soil, water and plant analytical methodologies
To provide a better and rapid nutrient recommendation to the beneficiaries
To enrich the knowledge of the stakeholders on the recent nutrient management
strategies
To serve as a platform for discussion, interaction and exchange of experiences based
on their local problems in soil fertility and plant nutrition
Course content
Hands on training on collection of soil, plant and water samples and analysis
Soil physical parameters : Soil texture, bulk density, particle density, water holding
capacity
Chemical parameters: Soil pH, total soluble salts, lime and gypsum requirement,
cation exchange capacity, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus,
potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, copper, manganese, zinc and boron
following standard extraction and estimation procedures and with Soil Test based
Fertilizer Recommendation (STFR) kit
Biological parameters: Enzyme analysis, enumeration of soil microorganisms,
isolation and determination of nutrient use efficient microbes, estimation of
nematode population
Irrigation water quality assessment
Plant sample analysis for total N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn
Arriving at nutrient recommendation based on soil test, generation of soil health
cards, arriving at the grades of the customized fertilizer formulations, calculation of
soil quality indices and soil health
Eligibility
Entry and medium level researchers, agricultural officers, subject matter specialists,
technical staff and extension specialists of the State Universities, ICAR Institutes,
KVKs, Soil testing laboratories of State Agriculture Departments, private agri clinics
and prospective entrepreneurs.
Important dates
Last date for receiving applications: 11 July 2024
Period of training: 22-26 July 2024
Read more: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y_oXKOk1-LEuEIAkUn3zyVla_v44EAce/view
Original link: https://www.ctcri.org/
