Rawalpindi - By use of proportionate fertilizers, the productivity of crop can be increased about fifty per cent and model in this respect has been prepared by the Agriculture University Faisalabad which have been designed for all districts of Punjab keeping in view the soil condition of each district through these models productivity of crop can be increased by usage of less fertilizers.
These models have been prepared after a detailed research by the agriculture researchers Dr. Abdul Majeed, Dr Abdul Rasheed and their teams.
Pir Mehar Ali Shah Arid Agricultural University (PMAS-AAUR) Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Rai Niaz Ahmed expressed these views at a briefing specially held in Committee Room of the university here on Wednesday. Dr Abdul Majeed and Dr Abdul Rasheed presented detailed briefing about the project entitled “soil fertility and soil health in Pakistan through demonstration and dissemination of best practices for farmers regarding usage of fertilizers”. VC arid agricultural universities informed that USAID and ICARDA have provided technical and financial assistance and cooperation for dissemination of information regarding the project for low usage of fertilizers as per requirements of the soil and land.
Dr Niaz informed that on account of decrease in ratio of phosphorus and nitrogen in our agriculture soil, the productivity of crop has become low and for this reason the model having all details regarding the ways and procedures of soil tests and usage of fertilizers have been prepared to facilitate the farmers and achieve the objective of high production ratio with low usage of fertilizers. The Principal Investigator Dr Abdul Majeed and Dr Abdul Rasheed informed the media that initially five crops including wheat, rice, sugarcane, cotton and maize have been selected for using proportionate quantity of phosphorous and nitrogen on fifty per cent of the agriculture land and this would help in earning additional income of about Rs260 billion. They presented the data regarding low usage of phosphorous and said that in period between year 2004-5 and 2006-7 the usage of phosphorous was increased from 26 kg to 46 kg per hectares and on account of increase in rates of the phosphorous, its usage again decreased up to 26 kg in the period of 2011-12. They added that the model for low usage of fertilizers has been prepared keeping in view rising rates of the fertilizers and determining the right ratio to achieve maximum productivity. He said that this will also help in emphasising need and usage of minimum fertilizers.
The farmers would also be able to get information at their homes by visiting the site of the model i.e. www.fertilizeruaf.pk. Director Agriculture Information Punjab Muhammad Rafique Akhter said that media can play vital role in dissemination of information regarding the project “how to increase productivity of crop by using low and proportionate fertilizers”. Dr. Abdul Majeed on this occasion said that International Institution ICARDA would continue its collaboration for increasing per acre yield of agriculture produces and crop.